Senior Premium Hoodie Designer & Product Developer — Concept to Production

We are looking for an experienced premium hoodie designer and apparel product developer to help us create a genuinely differentiated hoodie from the ground up. Please apply only if you have personally developed premium hoodies, sweatshirts, or closely related heavyweight knit garments through physical sampling and production. We are not looking for someone to simply design graphics, add a logo to an existing hoodie, or create attractive fashion illustrations. We want to develop the hoodie itself as a product. The Goal We want to create a premium hoodie that people genuinely love wearing for long periods of time and that is recognizable through its design, construction, fit, and feel—not simply its logo. We are particularly interested in solving several problems with conventional premium hoodies: * They can become hot and uncomfortable during extended wear. * Sweat and odor can build up relatively quickly. * Many are not designed specifically to feel exceptional directly against bare skin. * Most premium hoodies compete primarily through branding, fabric weight, graphics, or oversized fit rather than meaningful product innovation. Our goal is to combine premium fashion with thoughtful apparel engineering. Product Direction We want to explore: * An exceptionally soft, luxurious skin-facing surface * A hoodie comfortable enough to wear directly against bare skin * Moisture-wicking and moisture-management properties * Odor-management technology or materials that help the garment stay fresher between washes * Better temperature regulation and breathability than a conventional heavyweight hoodie * A substantial, comforting feel without simply making the garment excessively heavy or hot * Premium drape, structure, and hand feel * Comfortable seams and construction for extended next-to-skin wear * A distinctive silhouette and recognizable design language * Thoughtful hood, cuff, hem, sleeve, and pocket construction * A discreet tactile/interactive feature integrated into the garment, which we will discuss in greater detail with selected candidates We are open to exploring double-face fabrics, engineered knits, merino blends, performance fibers, natural/synthetic blends, strategic ventilation zones, different interior and exterior surfaces, or other textile solutions. We do not have a predetermined answer. We want someone with enough hoodie and textile experience to help us determine the best solution. What We Need From You We would like you to help take the product from concept toward a manufacturer-ready prototype, including: * Competitive analysis of premium hoodie construction * Fabric and material recommendations * Fabric sourcing * Hoodie silhouette and fit development * Pattern/construction recommendations * Hood design and structure * Pocket construction and development * Seam selection * Ribbing/cuff/hem development * Recommendations around GSM, drape, softness, durability, shrinkage, pilling, and wash performance * Moisture, odor, and temperature-management solutions * Development of our proprietary tactile/interactive concept * Technical sketches * Production-ready tech pack * Sample/prototype development * Sample evaluation and revisions * Manufacturing feasibility * Preliminary costing/BOM guidance * Assistance identifying appropriate sample makers, textile suppliers, and manufacturers if needed Our objective is ultimately mass production, not simply a concept rendering. Who We’re Looking For Our ideal candidate has substantial hands-on experience developing high-quality premium hoodies or sweatshirts. Experience with one or more of the following would be especially valuable: * Premium streetwear * Luxury casualwear * Premium athleisure * Heavyweight hoodies * Performance hoodies * Technical knit apparel * Innovative fleece constructions * Double-face fabrics * Merino/performance blends * Moisture-wicking textiles * Odor-management textiles * Thermoregulating apparel * Garment washing/finishing * Direct relationships with premium hoodie manufacturers or textile mills You should understand not only how a hoodie looks, but how fabric weight, yarn, knit construction, finishing, pattern, seams, ribbing, hood structure and manufacturing decisions determine how it feels and performs. Please Include With Your Application Please show us 2–3 premium hoodies or sweatshirts that you personally helped develop. For each one, briefly explain: * What company/brand or project it was for, if you are permitted to disclose it * What you personally contributed * How the fabric was selected * Approximate fabric composition and GSM, if known * Your involvement with fit/pattern development * Your involvement with sampling * Whether you produced the tech pack * Whether you communicated directly with the manufacturer * Whether the garment ultimately entered production Please distinguish between garments you actually developed and projects where you only created graphics, illustrations, or visual concepts. Also tell us whether you currently have relationships with sample makers, fabric mills, or premium hoodie manufacturers. One Question We’d Like You to Answer Please briefly answer this in your proposal: If you were trying to create an exceptionally premium hoodie that someone could comfortably wear directly against bare skin for many hours, while reducing heat, moisture, and odor buildup—but still maintaining the substantial, comforting feel of a premium hoodie—what fabric and construction directions would you investigate first, and why? We aren’t looking for one particular answer. We want to understand how you think about hoodie construction and textile performance. About the Project This is intended to become a hero product for Ooddle, a brand being developed around the idea of helping people reset during everyday life. The exterior should feel sophisticated and desirable as fashion. We do not want it to look like medical apparel or conventional wellness merchandise. Some of the product’s reset functionality will be discreetly integrated into the garment itself. More details about those elements will be shared privately with shortlisted candidates. If the initial development goes well, there is potential for substantial ongoing work through prototyping, manufacturing, additional colorways, future versions, and other Ooddle products. Please begin your proposal with “OODDLE HOODIE” so we know you have read the complete brief.