COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT

WE CREATE FASHION!

Two seasons per year, six collections per season – for our colleagues in Design and Product Management, this means design, coordination, costing and approval. And always with considerable attention to detail and, above all else, in close coordination with each other. After all, teamwork is the top priority here. It starts with the trend scouting and only ends with the finished article. Join us and discover the exciting, varied and creative world of the fashion designers at Ernsting’s family!

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OUR DESIGN AND PRODUCT MANAGEMENT TEAM: HAND IN HAND FROM THE START

PRE-SEASON: TREND SCOUTING

At the beginning of each season – Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter – our Design department carries out trend and market analyses: What are the current trends and which ones will best fit our brand? What are the colours and cuts of the season? To find these things out, our designers and product managers head to the leading fashion centres both at home and abroad where they look for the biggest trends for Ernsting’s family at fashion trade fairs and during store checks. Our Design team then uses its findings to create colour charts for the upcoming season – for both our physical store and online-only ranges – and then coordinates these with Product Management.

ONCE A MONTH: COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT

From large to small: Once the focal points for the season have been defined, our Product Management team “builds” the collection for the coming month together with Design: Which market trends are relevant to us, which articles have performed well and could go on repeat sale? With the help of these analyses, our Product Management team then creates the collection framework which contains all the important information for Design – from the type of product group to the advised price ranges for the next month. Then it’s time to get creative! Our designers can now draw, design, build and try out according to these specifications. All the designers create their own artwork and applications for their products, and develop styles for all the product groups from one or more of our brands. As soon as the worksheets are ready, our staff in Design and Product Management present them to the leaders of the Product Management team.

THE PURCHASING DECISION

The go ahead from Product Management for the styles created by Design confirms the collection for the upcoming month and heralds the costing, consideration and decision-making phase for the Product Management team: Which product should be purchased, how often and at what price? How highly is the article rated? This is where our colleagues from Product Management benefit from their experience, sensitivity to our customer base and, of course, their affinity for figures. Once the costing is finished and the product is placed, it’s handed over to quality development, which is responsible for developing the fit, finishing and dimensional accuracy.

COMPREHENSIVE PRODUCT SUPPORT

Even after the handover to quality development, our Design and Product Management can’t stop working – after all, they accompany the product until it reaches the store. The teams check the initial prototypes and only approve them when they meet their ideas and specifications. To ensure that these processes remain as lean as possible and free from extensive agreement loops, our teams also work closely together right from the start to define and pursue their shared goals and aspirations. This way of working allows our designers and product managers to be involved in the entire process surrounding their product and to play a key role in its success.

ON THE JOB WITH JIL, ANDREA, PIET AND MICHAEL

THIS IS HOW WE WORK

AGILE AND VERSATILE

Today womenswear, tomorrow baby clothes? Although our designers are usually responsible for a specific brand, they may temporarily move across to an online project or a different brand. You can also get involved in the product management in a variety of ways. The focus isn’t just on figures here, you will also be heavily involved in the design process.

NETWORKED

Whether it’s for marketing, procurement, merchandising or quality development – our Design and Product Management teams work with many different areas and provide them with advice and support. This way, joint decisions can be made on the merchandise layout in the stores, the development of measurement charts and the styles at our fashion shows.

EFFICIENT AND PRECISE

There are nine months between the design phase and the delivery of the goods. For our Design and Product Management teams, this means that every decision has to be thought through carefully and discussed in detail.

IN THE TEAM

Listening to each other, making decisions together and being able to rely on each other – that’s both how we work every day and how we succeed in keeping to the tight schedules and our high quality standards.

Digital

Whether it is PLM, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop or SAP – digital work-flows determine our everyday work in collection development. This means that all product development processes – from the sketches, to the order entry, to the delivery – are supported and managed digitally.

GRAPHICS AND FASHION DESIGN GO TOGETHER AT ERNSTING'S FAMILY.THIS ALLOWS ME TO COMBINE MY TWO PASSIONS AND GIVE THE ITEMS I DESIGN A PERSONAL TOUCH.

Vera, Designer

MY MOTIVATION AT WORK

The special thing about my job in design here at Ernsting’s family is the variety and the high frequency with which we design. Personally, it motivates me to know what’s coming up in the morning and to see the results of my work in the evening. I can also express my passion as a designer to perfection, as in this company, graphic design and fashion design aren’t considered separate fields. I find the opportunity to give my items their own character and to be able to bring my creativity into the production process in more varied ways to be unique! I didn’t have to choose between my passions.

We design at a very high frequency. Personally, it motivates me to know what’s coming up in the morning and to see the results of my work in the evening.

MY CAREER IN DESIGN

I found my way to Ernsting’s family in 2015 after completing my studies. I sent in a speculative application and started as an intern, before stepping in to replace a team member on maternity leave. This opportunity allowed me to start my career as a designer. This role gave me the opportunity to be responsible for my very own range for the first time – socks for children – which happened much sooner than I had expected. After my post was extended I became a junior designer, and helped out with various product ranges for women and children, which was very interesting and varied. A little later, I took over the Topolino Girls department as a designer.

I started as an intern and am now responsible for my own product range.

NOT JUST DESIGN, BUT ALSO PROJECT WORK

In addition to the creative work on the articles and collections, we also take part in various projects as designers. For example, when it comes to developing new product ranges or working with our PLM system – which is our construction kit for technical drawings – there are always opportunities to get involved in projects.

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT KEY FIGURES

employees

work together in design and product management.

collections

are created each year, the result of some intensive teamwork.

articles,

on average, are developed each month by our designers for each brand and product range.

900,000

articles

are purchased by our product managers per month and per product range for our 1,925 stores and around two million customers that use our online shop.

THE WORLD OF BRANDS AT ERNSTING’S FAMILY

Topomini

Looks great and is incredibly comfortable. Topomini accompanies little ones in their first three years as they grow up, in sizes from 56 to 92. Clothes with plenty of room to play for the new generation and great functions that make everyday parenting easier – you can rely on Topomini.

Topolino

Cheerful colours, great designs and playful details in sizes 98 to 128 – these clothes are great fun! Topolino offers curious kids exactly what they need, outfits that are fun, comfortable and that can do it all. Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, on fun days out or playing with friends.

YIGGA

Cool in the city! Yigga provides varied fashion to kids who know what they want. From stylish and trendy to casual and relaxed – Yigga is everything. And because kids love to get out and about, the collection, which comes in sizes 134 to 164, is high quality and very resistant.

Beatwear

Feel the beat, wear the beat! Beatwear offers on-trend outfits for kids who want to be as cool as the older teenagers. On-trend outfits for youngsters meet modern colours and the occasional eye-catching print. Whether it’s shirts, hoodies or trousers – this street wear collection in sizes 122 to 164 is always fun.

Famy

Fashion for the whole family! With Famy, adults and children can find the latest basics which are a pleasure to wear every day. It has everything, from trousers to shirts. The collection includes combi-packs, multi-packs and seasonal family themes and is designed so that each member of the family can find something for themselves.

Jonas Nielsen Stockholm

Jonas Nielsen Stockholm is the more sophisticated member of Ernsting’s family. This collection combines high-quality Nordic fashion expertise and sustainability to produce stunning, on-trend pieces year after year. Jonas Nielsen Stockholm is aimed at the whole family and wins everyone over with selected materials and cuts that always feel comfortable.

GINA

Be on the move, stay curious and live out your own style – Gina combines current trends, stylish colours and fashionable cuts in sizes from 34/36 to 50/52 to create urban looks that will make you want to reinvent yourself time and again.

Gina Benotti

Joyful variety! Ensure a stylish appearance in every situation with the Gina Benotti collection which comes in sizes 36/38 to 52/54. Pieces that you can mix-and-match, outstanding comfort and coordinated accessories give every outfit that feel-good factor.

van Vaan

Van Vaan offers fashionable basics for men who want to be stylish and relaxed. Comfortable shirts, nightwear, underwear and socks ensure maximum comfort every day. The perfect choice for relaxing with the family.

MyHome

There’s no place like home! Especially when there are so many beautiful details to discover. The fashionable home accessories from MyHome will turn any home into a feel-good oasis. Whether it’s the living room, kitchen, bathroom or bedroom: MyHome offers full design freedom!

YOUR OPPORTUNITIES TO JOIN OUR COMPANY

For experienced professionals

DIRECT ENTRY

Do you have experience of design or product management and are looking for a job in a creative, agile and networked team?

Apply directly

For school students

APPRENTICESHIP

Combine your interest in fashion with the basics of commerce in a Wholesale and Export Retail Specialist apprenticeship focusing on Product Management.

More about apprenticeships

For school and university students

INTERNSHIP

Whether you’re a school or university student or a graduate – our Design and Product Management teams welcome interns to work with them for three or six months!

More about internships

For graduates

TRAINEE PROGRAMME

Focusing on design, you can complete a 15-month trainee programme with us which is adapted individually to you and shape the start of your career in the world of fashion together with us!

More about our trainee programme

For university students

FINAL YEAR PROJECTS

Are you nearing the end of your studies and would you like to do your final year project at a company? There are always plenty of interesting topics to cover in our Design and Product Management team!

Find out more

BENEFITS FOR YOU

CHILDCARE ON CAMPUS

With our family childcare centre “Lillyfee”, you can be safe in the knowledge little ones will be lovingly cared for throughout your working hours.

Eine Frau sitzt im Sandkasten einer KITA und spielt mit einem jungen Mädchen.

INTENSIVE SHORT TRIPS

Paris, London, Barcelona – you will hit the road regularly both at home and abroad for store checks, trend analyses and to visit trade fairs.

INDEPENDENT WORKING

Quick decision-making paths and flat hierarchies mean that you can quickly start working independently and responsibly.

VARIED TASKS

In design, you look after all product groups and create artwork, while in product management, you work in the design process and quality development.

OUR REQUIREMENTS

PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE

So that you can get directly involved in the development of our collections and hit the ground running, it’s important that you already have some experience in product management or design. For the field of design, it’s also ideal if you have some experience in graphics, as our designers create all artwork and prints themselves.

A PASSION FOR TRAVELLING

We are constantly on the lookout for trends, materials, patterns and new shapes and products for our collections. This means we often go on short trips, both in Germany and abroad. If you like to travel and enjoy spending time at trade fairs and shopping in the leading fashion centres of the world, if you’re full of energy and don’t mind getting up before sunrise, you’ve come to the right place!

YOU LIKE TEAMWORK AND COMMUNICATING

Are you a true team player and do you like working in a network? Are you a good communicator and do you enjoy presenting your results to your colleagues? Perfect! Our work entails constant discussions and it’s with the greatest trust and mutual support that we accompany an article from its conception to the store in a short time.