Junior Designer

Who We Are

Founded by Gosia Piatek in 2006, Kowtow is a seed-to-garment brand from Wellington, New Zealand. All of our garments are made naturally from a single fibre, Fairtrade organic cotton.

At Kowtow our vision is to create clothing that can return to the earth without harm. We take responsibility for what we produce, how we operate our business and are actively working on solutions to reduce our footprint. We are committed to the principles of circular design - reducing waste, making products that last, keeping them in use and regenerating the natural environment at every point in the process. Our collections are created to build a modular wardrobe, offering quality pieces that can be worn again and again, year after year.

“The limitations of our ethos keeps us innovative. We don’t compromise on design, and embrace restrictions. This gives our garments a strong minimal identity, and we believe the simplicity of our clothing is the first step toward circularity.”

– Gosia Piatek, Kowtow Founder


The Role and what you will bring

We are searching for a talented Junior Designer to support the design of our seasonal collections from concept to completion. Working alongside our Head Designer and Production team in our central Wellington workroom, you will have excellent design skills, hands-on experience across garment design, construction and fashion illustration & be inspired by global creativity.

Your excellent design skills, ability to collaborate and exceptional time management will be key to your success. A typical day could include researching design themes, illustrating key looks & constructing toiles. 

You must have experience working in the fashion industry, ideally in a workroom environment. 


The Primary Responsibilities

  • Design Development: Support the end-to-end design process from concept and research through to technical development, creating seasonal themes, sketches, specifications, and visual presentation materials in collaboration with the Head Designer.

  • Technical & Production Collaboration: Work closely with the Production team and external suppliers to translate designs into high-quality garments, ensuring design intent, fit, construction, and sustainability standards are achieved throughout development and production.

  • Research & Innovation: Support ongoing trend, market, and competitor research to inform seasonal collections and contribute innovative ideas that align with the brand's creative vision and sustainability values.

  • Studio & Team Support: Contribute to the smooth operation of the design studio by supporting collection presentations, maintaining an organised and inspiring workspace, and assisting with hands-on workroom tasks including sample cutting, sewing, and garment measuring.


Your Skills and Experience

  • A minimum two years’ work experience in an apparel design and development role.

  • Highly creative with a passion for global fashion & design.

  • Strong hand-sketching skills including fashion illustration & technical drawings

  • Skilled in Adobe Suite, or similar tools essential. Experience using CLO 3D preferable.

  • Commercial understanding of the fashion industry and global market trends.

  • Meticulous attention to detail, exceptional time management and ability to problem solve in a fast paced environment.

  • A genuine interest in circularity, sustainability and design innovation.

Ideally you care about preserving the planet as much as we do and have a genuine interest in circularity, sustainability and innovation.


Working at Kowtow

Kowtow’s workroom and studio is located in central Wellington, Aotearoa’s creative capital. Flexible working options, a 9-day fortnight and volunteer days are just some of the ways we support the health and wellbeing of our team, and allow our people the time they need to rest and recharge. A seasonal clothing discount provides you and your loved ones the opportunity to enjoy wearing our Fairtrade organic cotton clothing.

At Kowtow we are proud of our kind and caring culture. We aim to provide a positive work environment where people can achieve their full potential, and we are committed to being diverse, inclusive and accessible. We believe in a future where fashion harmonises with the planet and people, leaving no harmful footprint behind. The whole team shares an interest in sustainability and innovation and everyone at Kowtow contributes toward our shared goals.

You will thrive at Kowtow if you are naturally confident, have a positive attitude and share our vision of leaving the planet better than we found it.

Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa.

Apply by emailing careers@kowtowclothing.com and please include a cover letter, CV and online portfolio.

Applications close Monday 27 July, 2026.