Junior Textile 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 have a rare opening for a creative textile designer to join the Kowtow design team in Te Whanganui-a-Tara,Wellington. Reporting to the Head Designer, and working with our talented design and production teams, this role is responsible for the seasonal development of innovative fabrics and inspiring print designs.

We’d like to hear from you if you have made a start on your design career in a similar role, or have gained solid experience in a graduate or intern role!

The Primary Responsibilities

Research, design and develop woven and knit fabric qualities
Support the Design team with creation of range themes and mood boards
Work closely with the Head Designer to develop seasonal print programme
Create technical instructions for textile and print development
Share in the research of creative design solutions within Kowtow’s sustainability framework
Maintain and organise design studio, archives and fabric library
Collaborate in the creation of visual communication documents

Skills and Experience

Experience in a similar role, preferably with a sustainable/circular brand
Highly creative, both conceptually and hands-on, with a passion for art and nature
Sound understanding of product, textile and print development
Resourceful and proactive approach, with a commercial understanding of the industry and current market trends
Deadline driven with exceptional attention to detail and organisational skills
Mac literate, and experience with Adobe Suite and/or other design software
Confident communicator with excellent verbal and written skills

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 allowance and 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.

To learn more about Kowtow please visit

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

Apply now via Seek or email us at careers@kowtowclothing.com with your cover letter, portfolio and CV.