Join Our Team

ABOUT BROTHER VELLIES 

 

Founded in 2013, Brother Vellies is a black owned and female led lifestyle and accessories brand redefining luxury through style and substance. With values rooted in sustainability, social impact, artisanal craftsmanship, and community, the brand embodies the creative vision of designer and activist Aurora James, creator of the Fifteen Percent Pledge. 
For more information visit www.brothervellies.com or on Instagram @BrotherVellies
 

To apply please submit your resume to:  careers@brothervellies.com

JOB TITLE:  SENIOR DESIGN & PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

LOCATION:  NEW YORK OR LOS ANGELES

 

Primary Purpose:  Assist the Creative Director in the design, development and production of Brother Vellies products.

We are looking for a creative and enthusiastic individual to support the Creative Director in the Design, Product Development and Production efforts at Brother Vellies. This candidate should be self-motivated, organized, personable, and looking to develop their skills within a dynamic and fast-paced environment. The individual will be responsible for creative concepting, visual design and development of various creative projects including our accessories collections, products developed in collaboration with brand partners, and the various network of global artisans in our Something Special subscription program.

Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

  • Support our Creative Director in the design, development and production process for all product categories, shoes, handbags, accessories, and home, with men’s and women’s footwear as the priority.
  • Create a cohesive product assortment each season that delivers sales results, is unique, innovative, and is ahead of market trends, ensuring brand aesthetic and design storytelling is threaded throughout.
  • Assist with the creation of sketches and technical packs for each collection.
  • Oversee conceptual, digital, and production design work, as well as provide managerial oversight of the various design and production partners.
  • Create and refine an ecosystem of products on the line plan, building assortment strategies based on seasonality, function, style count and price point.
  • Assist in the sourcing of raw materials in line with the product/collection briefing.
  • Oversee collating of all raw material information, pricing, MOQ technical sheets.
  • Creating detailed sketches and CAD illustrations to progress designs through the full development and manufacturing process.
  • Oversee sourcing of new artisan workshops globally. 
  • Ensure artisanal handcrafted products are ordered with 4-6month lead time to ensure timely development and delivery of products, especially as it pertains to the Something Special program.
  • Oversee the tracking of all product samples through the design and development process, managing the production and sampling costs to ensure costs stay within budget.
  • Oversee tracking, management, and shipping of all materials and products to ensure various components are developed and secured in time to deliver the collection on time.
  • Own and drive critical timelines on projects and balance workload for the design and production team, adhering to calendar and key milestones.
  • Ensure all new product samples are fit tested, providing feedback to production teams on modifications required both from a technical and creative standpoint to ensure high quality standards.
  • Work with retail teams to ensure all new samples are photographed in time for line sheet creation, market presentations, and online selling.
  • Support in the creation of line sheets each season, working with the Creative Director to name new collections and work with production and operations teams to prepare pricing. 
  • Analyze new styles and collaborations for viability, cost-effectiveness, long-term line-planning, and competitive advantage to facilitate decision making and timely execution.
  • Work with the CEO to manage budget to ensure project costs do not exceed budgets, and that inventory planning and assortments are performing to sales forecast to achieve financial and operational objectives.
  • Provide creative direction to collaboration partners to ensure brand codes and guidelines are respected.
  • Work closely with Retail and Wholesale teams to regularly gather feedback on product assortment, customer feedback, and market trends that the company needs to integrate as part of future collection planning.

Required Skills and Experience:

  • 4+ years of relevant experience.
  • Must love shoes! Experience in footwear design is mandatory.
  • The ideal candidate will also have experience in small leather goods, handbags, and home products as well.
  • Must be incredibly creative, innovative with strong illustration skills.
  • Thorough knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop a must.
  • Able to create hand sketches and is highly proficient in CAD.
  • A strategic thinker with a solutions-oriented mindset, who can think outside of the box and innovatively across all stages of the creative, design and development process.
  • Able to multi task, managing multiple priorities to deliver on several concurrent seasons at once.
  • Problem solver who can prioritize among multiple and sometimes competing priorities.
  • Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills both oral and written.
  • Must be dependable, trust worthy, driven, and passionate.
  • Experience working with small artisan communities around the world a plus.
  • Proficiency in foreign languages, either in Spanish, Italian, or French a plus.
  • Entrepreneurial, highly motivated self-starter with the ability to work both collaboratively and independently.
  • Eager to grow as a leader and contribute to the future of Brother Vellies.
  • Bachelor's degree in Design or Design related field preferred.

To apply please submit your resume and portfolio to:  careers@brothervellies.com

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    JOB TITLE:  CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

    LOCATION:  BROOKLYN NEW YORK.  HYBRID OR REMOTE WORK POSSIBLE.

    The Customer Service Representative (CSR) is responsible for interacting with customers across email, social, phone, and Shopify Inbox online chat.

    This position reports to the Store Manager and supports the overall store and brand customer experience. 

    Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

    • The ideal candidate has a positive warm friendly demeanor and is authentic, empathetic and professional in all customer interactions.
    • Support customers with genuine and friendly enthusiasm over the phone, on virtual chats, on social and on email.
    • Communicate clearly and professionally adapting style to suit customers by problem solving and resolving conflict within company guidelines.
    • Respond promptly to all customer questions providing product and service information.
    • Ensure customer inquiries and issues are managed end to end and addressed in a timely manner to deliver 5-star luxury customer experience.
    • Nurture long-term relationships with VIP customers to meet or exceed customer satisfaction and loyalty.
    • Proactively address customer concerns with care and confidence.  
    • Know when to escalate and partner with leadership team to determine the best path forward.
    • Provide insight and feedback to the store manager, and leadership team, providing recommendations or seeking support to address issues that are more effectively managed via corporate emails instead of one-to-one communication when more mass communication or company updates are needed.
    • Manage the company’s FAQ, and customer service script guidelines, ensuring all customer interactions are consistent with the brand tone, voice, and values across all touch points.
    • Previous experience with Shopify, Zendesk, Returnly, Gorgias, and other omni customer service platforms for small businesses preferred.
    • Support sales and conversion goals by guiding customers on their customer journey, providing insight into product information, fit and storytelling, upselling and cross selling where relevant to drive acquisition, retention to support with achieving company objectives.
    • Manage customer requests for returns, exchanges, and cancelation requests per company policy and guidelines.
    • Support customer orders with shipping issues, providing customs forms, packing lists, and supporting documentation to help expedite delivery of international shipments.
    • Work with various fulfillment partners and warehouses so that any orders that are held up are resolved to ensure order fulfillment is managed on a timely basis.
    • Provide insight to management team on frequent requests or feedback on products to support with buying and inventory planning.
    • Support the monthly Something Special subscription program, supporting customers with address update requests, shipping status, tracking of monthly gift delivery, replacement of damaged items, and fulfillment of missing gifts.
    • Previous experience with subscription platforms such Bold or Recharge a plus.

    Physical Demands

    While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and sit for extended periods of time; reach for tools and objects with hands and arms; climb stairs; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk to and hear customers.  The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. The employee must be able to see up close and at a distance, as well as use peripheral vision and depth perception, and be able to look at, read, and use a computer, electronic devices and phones for long periods of time.

    Required Skills and Experience:

    • Must love shoes!
    • Prior experience in retail customer service mandatory. Luxury preferred.
    • Must have a solutions-oriented mindset
    • Able to multi task, managing multiple priorities to deliver on several concurrent seasons at once.
    • Problem solver who can prioritize among multiple and sometimes competing priorities.
    • Excellent interpersonal, communication and relationship building skills both oral and written.
    • Must be dependable, trust worthy, driven, and passionate.
    • Entrepreneurial, highly motivated self-starter with the ability to work both collaboratively and independently.
    • High School diploma or an equivalent degree.
    • 1-2 years prior retail customer service experience required, specialty store, luxury or hospitality preferred.

    To apply please submit your resume and portfolio to:  careers@brothervellies.com

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    JOB TITLE:  PR INTERN

    LOCATION:  NEW YORK, NY

    The PR Intern will work closely with the Brother Vellies Leadership team and have exposure working with the PR agencies, stylists, and media partners working with and supporting Brother Vellies.

    Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

    • Work with Retail teams and PR/Talent agencies to manage all sample requests, and sample pulls to secure placements across all brand exposure opportunities.
    • Communicate regularly with the various teams to ensure sample requests are managed, pulled, cataloged, delivered, and returned accurately and on time.
    • Assist with tracking all press samples on loan for PR opportunities and shoots
    • Manage all sample pulls required for product photography, and editorial shoots for ecommerce and social platforms.
    • Work with Retail and PR agencies on logistics paperwork, shipments, and arranging messengers
    • Check in all sample returns from photo shoots and celebrity fitting
    • Oversee the organization of the PR closet and showroom
    • Manage the press kit section of the website to ensure all new collections are properly represented and searchable for sample requests.
    • Support in taking pictures for social media content

    Required Skills and Qualifications:

    • Must be available to work at the Brother Vellies Brooklyn headquarters, Monday – Friday 10am-6pm.
    • Highly organized with a strong attention to detail.
    • Strong work ethic, creative problem solver, takes initiative.
    • Entrepreneurial spirit and strong affinity for the Brother Vellies brand, mission and values.
    • Passionate about Fashion accessories and the Fashion industry
    • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power Point and Word
    • Experience with Fashion GPS and/or Shopify a plus
    • Strong desire to learn key functions of the fashion industry

    An outstanding professional will have...

    • BA in Marketing, Communications or Fashion Design preferred.
    • 1-3 years’ experience in public relations, marketing communications

    To apply please submit your resume to:  careers@brothervellies.com

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    JOB TITLE:  DESIGN INTERN

    LOCATION:  LOS ANGELES OR NEW YORK

    Brother Vellies is looking for a creative Accessories and Footwear Design Intern to assist in the process of developing seasonal fashion collections.  The Design Intern will work closely with the Creative Director and have exposure working with the various artisanal partners around the world. 

    Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

    • Assist with hand-work to create sketches, prototypes and samples for market
    • Create mockups in photoshop of potential colorways, materials, to assist with visualization
    • Support in completing Accessories and production tech packs to send to our global partner factories
    • Taking photos and inventory of prototypes and samples for each new season
    • Support in creating seasonal line sheets for market presentations
    • Cross-departmental collaboration and communication
    • Support with logistics, packing and shipping samples
    • Assist in daily studio errands when needed

    Required Skills and Qualifications:

    • Must have background in Footwear and/or Accessories
    • Entrepreneurial spirit and strong affinity for the Brother Vellies brand, aesthetic, mission and values.
    • Highly organized with a strong attention to detail.
    • Strong work ethic, creative problem solver, takes initiative.
    • Committed to meet deadlines and able to handle multiple tasks at the same time.
    • Proactive and willing to learn;
    • Positive attitude, with a can-do approach to everything.
    • A team player but able to work independently
    • Good knowledge of MS Office and Adobe suite
    • BA in Fashion Design, with a focus in footwear preferred.
    • 1-3 years’ experience in footwear/accessories design

    To apply please submit your resume to:  careers@brothervellies.com

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    JOB TITLE:  BUSINESS ANALYST INTERN

    LOCATION:  NEW YORK, NY

    The Business Analyst Intern will report to the CEO and have exposure working with the Finance and Accounting department to assist with various financial analysis, reporting, and due diligence activities for Brother Vellies.

    Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

    • Prepare, review, and analyze accounts payable and accounts receivable to support in the management of cash flow, budgeting, and forecasting.
    • Support in daily, monthly and annual sales projections across retail, ecommerce, and wholesale.
    • Support in the analysis of Business Performance and tracking of KPI’s to achieve annual goals.
    • Conduct market research in category opportunities, channel optimization, or geographical expansion.
    • Support in the analysis of financial statements Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow etc.
    • Special projects and ad hoc reporting and analysis as needed.

    Required Skills and Qualifications:

    • Strong accounting and analytical skills
    • Strong communication and interpersonal skills
    • Excellent initiative and problem-solving skills
    • Demonstrated ability to perform financial analysis with limited direction
    • Proficiency in MS Excel, QuickBooks, and Shopify preferred
    • Entrepreneurial spirit and passion to have a meaningful impact
    • Strong desire to learn and develop their professional skillset

    An outstanding professional will have...

    • BS in Finance/Accounting, candidates seeking CPA or MBA preferred
    • 1-3 years’ experience in public accounting or financial reporting

    To apply please submit your resume to:  careers@brothervellies.com

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    JOB TITLE:  MERCHANDISING & INVENTORY OPERATIONS INTERN

    LOCATION:  NEW YORK

    Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

    The Merchandising and Inventory Operations Intern will work closely with the CEO and Retail teams at our offices and retail location in Brooklyn where they will assist in a variety of projects:

    • Support with daily operations inventory management and tracking at the retail store, warehouse fulfillment center, and on the Shopify Ecommerce website.
    • Assist with merchandise planning and trend forecasting for upcoming seasons to inventory processing, allocation, and distribution management across channels.
    • Assist with purchase orders, vendor and customer relations, and analyzing the performance of inventory across multiple categories
    • Running regular reports for buys and sales reporting to analyze inventory performance across multiple categories
    • Review sell-through across retail and wholesale, identify replenishment orders required to ensure adequate inventory levels of key items.
    • Work with Design team to assist with Trend and Style Forecasting
    • Assist with pricing, competitive analysis, and margin analysis for each seasonal collection.

    Required Skills and Qualifications:

    • Must have background in Fashion Merchandising, experience in Footwear or Accessories preferred.
    • Entrepreneurial spirit and strong affinity for the Brother Vellies brand, aesthetic, mission and values.
    • Highly organized with a strong attention to detail.
    • Strong work ethic, creative problem solver, takes initiative.
    • Committed to meet deadlines and able to handle multiple tasks at the same time.
    • Proactive and willing to learn;
    • Positive attitude, with a can-do approach to everything.
    • A team player but able to work independently
    • Advanced knowledge of Excel, PowerPoint and MS Office, knowledge of Shopify a plus
    • Interested in a Career in Fashion Merchandising or Retail Operations
    • Recent Graduates or Currently Enrolled in a 4-year degree program
    • Retail experience not required but a plus
    • BA in Fashion Merchandising, Buying or Business Planning preferred. Studying towards an MBA a plus
    • 1-3 years’ experience in merchandising, buying, planning or inventory management

    To apply please submit your resume to:  careers@brothervellies.com

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    Brother Vellies is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer and we pride ourselves on hiring and developing the best people. All employment decisions (including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, transfer, training, discipline and termination) are based on the applicant’s or employee’s qualifications as they relate to the requirements of the position under consideration. These decisions are made without regard to age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic characteristics, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, alienage, citizenship, disability, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or any other legally-recognized protected basis prohibited by applicable law.

    To apply please submit your resume to:  careers@brothervellies.com