Shopify Developer for a Design-Led Retail Brand

We're looking for a thoughtful Shopify developer to collaborate on the launch of a carefully designed e-commerce experience for an independent fashion and lifestyle retailer based in Northern California. The strategy, brand identity, user experience, website architecture, and content have already been developed. We're looking for someone who enjoys translating a strong design system into a Shopify site that feels intuitive, performs well, and is built to evolve over time. You'll be collaborating directly with Manuelita Antonio, leading strategy, creative direction, and UX throughout the project. About the Project Our client is an established independent retailer entering an exciting new chapter. Alongside a carefully curated collection of clothing and objects, the business is expanding its own design practice and needs an e-commerce ecosystem that can support that evolution. Rather than building a simple online store, we're creating a connected Shopify ecosystem that brings together: * Direct-to-consumer retail * Wholesale * Shopify POS * Instagram Shop * Shared inventory across all sales channels The objective is to create a digital experience that reflects the care and thoughtfulness of the physical store while establishing the infrastructure needed for future growth. Scope The project includes: * Customization of a premium Shopify theme to reflect an established design system and user experience * Retail storefront * Wholesale functionality * Shopify POS integration * Inventory synchronization * Instagram Shop integration * Product and collection templates * Mobile-first optimization * SEO best practices * Email marketing integration * Performance optimization Brand assets, typography, copy, UX direction, page architecture, and visual identity will all be provided. Who We're Looking For You're an experienced Shopify developer who cares as much about the user experience as the code behind it. Ideally, you: * Build clean, scalable Shopify sites * Appreciate thoughtful UX, typography, and visual hierarchy * Have a good eye for layout, spacing, and interaction details * Communicate clearly and proactively * Enjoy collaborating rather than simply executing tickets * Can recommend technical solutions without losing sight of the overall experience Experience with fashion, lifestyle, home goods, or design-focused brands is a plus, but curiosity, good judgment, and attention to detail matter just as much. Nice to Have * Experience implementing wholesale workflows or Shopify wholesale apps * Experience integrating inventory systems * Familiarity with editorial-style Shopify sites * Comfort recommending apps and discussing technical trade-offs * An interest in craft, design, architecture, or independent retail How We Like to Work We're collaborative, thoughtful, and genuinely enjoy solving problems together. We care about strategy, craft, and the details that make an experience feel effortless. We're not looking for someone to simply "build a Shopify site." We're looking for a collaborator who enjoys building thoughtful digital experiences and believes that good design lives in both the visible and invisible details. Timeline Target build: approximately 8-10 weeks. The design direction and content are largely complete, allowing us to focus our energy on implementation, refinement, and launch. To Apply Please include: * Three Shopify projects you're most proud of * A brief description of your role in each * Links to the live sites * A few sentences about how you approach translating a strong visual design into Shopify * Your availability over the next three months We'll share the complete website brief, page architecture, and brand guidelines with shortlisted candidates.