Designer - Handbags, Accessories & Luggage at CALPAK in Gardena, CA

CALPAK is a travel and lifestyle brand known for designing thoughtful, fashion-forward luggage, handbags, and accessories. With a focus on blending style with functionality, CALPAK creates products that move with modern life — from the everyday commute to the long-haul journey. The brand is committed to delivering best-in-class design across a range of price points, balancing creative innovation with commercial relevance to meet the needs of today's on-the-go consumer.

About the Role:

The Designer will play a key role in shaping the CALPAK product vision across handbags, SLGs, luggage, and packaging. Reporting to the Design Director, this role is responsible for leading and maintaining design initiatives from concept through production—driving innovation, elevating product execution and performance, and ensuring alignment with CALPAK’s brand identity, customer, and commercial goals.

This position requires a creative and strategic thinker with strong technical expertise in handbag design, a thorough understanding of materials and construction, and the ability to translate concepts into brand-relevant products. The ideal candidate maintains ownership of the product and collaborates cross-functionally to bring best-in-class products to market.

Key Responsibilities:

Design & Concept Development

• Assist in design and development of seasonal and evergreen product across handbags, SLGs, luggage, and packaging categories.
• Help drive development of concept, color direction, material selection, silhouette, and hardware detailing with a distinct point of view.
• Conduct in-depth trend research across multiple markets (premium, contemporary, vintage) to identify emerging trends in shape, function, materials, and construction.
• Organize the research into physical and digital boards for presentation to leadership team
• Translate the research into innovative, commercially viable product ideas across multiple approaches and price points

Technical Design & Execution

• Create detailed, production-ready sketches and tech packs in Adobe Illustrator, with a strong understanding of scale, proportion, and construction.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive tech packs, ensuring accuracy and cohesion in specs, materials, and construction details.
• Proactively identify and resolve design and construction challenges throughout development process

Product Development Partnership

• Own communication with cross-functional partners throughout the development lifecycle from concept through final production.
• Partner closely with Product Development to manage sampling, including proto reviews, color and material management, and iteration tracking.
• Ensure designs meet margin goals and production feasibility without compromising design integrity or performance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Marketing, Digital, CX, Operations, and Sales to align product design with broader business strategy.

Presentation & Storytelling

• Create compelling design presentations and visual tools that clearly communicate concept, assortment strategy, and product details to internal stakeholders.

Process & Organization

• Manage multiple projects across overlapping timelines, ensuring deadlines and key milestones are met.
• Maintain organized digital files, tech packs, and shared resources.
• Bring structure and clarity to ambiguous or evolving business needs.
• Provide any support as needed.

Qualifications

Required:

• 5+ years of experience in product design, with a strong focus on handbags and accessories.
• Proven portfolio demonstrating ownership of handbag categories from concept through production, including tech packs.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, including original tech packs and full-scale drawings.
• Deep understanding of handbag construction, materials, hardware, and manufacturing processes.
• Strong eye for color, materials, and trend interpretation.
• Ability to balance creativity with commercial viability and cost considerations.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Experience working directly with overseas factories and suppliers (preferably Asia)

Preferred:

• Experience designing with nylon, PU, and leather. Luggage is a plus!
• Hand or digital sketching and ideation skills.
• Strong conceptual thinking with the ability to create distinctive, brand-right products.

Why CALPAK: Benefits & Perks:

• Annual bonus plan
• Medical, Dental & Vision insurance
• 401K w/ company matching
• Life insurance & Disability coverage
• Accrued paid time off & floating holidays
• Monthly wellness credits
• Dog friendly office
• Employee discount
• Benefits and incentive compensation may be subject to other requirements and conditions