YM Inc. was founded on the strength of a single retail store in the heart of downtown Toronto in 1975, under the name Stitches. Today we are one of North America’s leading apparel retailers operating over 700 stores across Canada and the United States under the following banners: Stitches, Urban Planet, Urban Behavior, Sirens, Forever 21, Urban Kids, Suzy Shier, Bluenotes, West 49, Amnesia, Charlotte Russe, Rue 21 and Mandee.
Our goal is to sustain performance that exceeds expectations. We are committed to creating a culture where people feel valued and inspired to achieve results. We give our people the appropriate tools, freedom and authority to make decisions. They are accountable for their actions and we recognize their efforts and reward their results. We attract and nurture the best people by providing leadership opportunities, career development and continuous learning. We are committed to leading by example and with integrity. We treat people with respect and dignity, promote the benefits of diversity and address challenges in a direct and compassionate manner. We engage people in our goals and objectives; we listen and act on new ideas where possible. That is our Philosophy.
Before You Apply
This role is not for you if your portfolio is UX flows, corporate identity systems, or campaign work for financial services or tech companies. We have nothing against that work. It is just a different craft than ours.
Campaign and art direction experience is welcome if it comes from the right place. If your references are streetwear, independent fashion, skate culture, or cult brands you probably speak our language. Supreme, Stussy, House of Sunny. That world. If your portfolio lives there, keep reading.
We make things that live on bodies, hang on racks, and sit on shelves. A great graphic on a tee looks different from a great graphic on a screen. If you already know that, you are probably the right person. If you are not sure what we mean, you are probably not.
We are also not looking for someone who wants to move away from making things. The best candidate for this role still gets excited about a tight type lockup. They have opinions about placement, weight, and what reads at distance. They want to make great work and help a team do the same.
The Kind Of Designer We Are Looking For
You get excited about new Photoshop techniques and you share them. You do not hoard your tricks.
When a brief is strange or difficult you lean in rather than back off. You take it as a challenge and you bring energy to it, not resistance.
You follow design across styles and references, not just what is comfortable or familiar to you. You are as interested in a 1970s concert poster as you are in what is trending on Pinterest this week.
You are always learning something and always showing the team what you found. That instinct to teach what you know is what makes you a lead, not just a great individual designer.
You are not afraid of AI. You think of it as another tool, the same way you think about a new Photoshop technique or a brush you have never tried before. You pick it up, you figure out what it can do, and you share what you learn.
You love the craft. After years in the industry you still care about getting it right. The kerning, the weight, the placement. It still matters to you and that shows in your work.
Lead the team
- Own the day-to-day workflow for 6 graphic designers across Ladies, Kids, and Accessories
- Run Planner as the production routing tool with light oversight from the Creative Director
- Be the first point of contact for designers before questions reach the CD
- Hold the QA gate on work before it moves to stakeholders
- Give direct feedback on craft, process, and output standards
Make things
- Contribute actively to design projects across tees, packaging, and seasonal graphics
- Bring a strong point of view on apparel typography and graphic composition
- Work alongside the team, not above them
- Maintain the standard you are asking others to meet
Use AI as a real tool
- Use ChatGPT and other AI tools in your actual workflow, not as a buzzword
- Support the team in using AI for research, ideation, and brief interpretation
- Maintain the ChatGPT prompt review flow built into the QA process
Keep things moving
- Track task status and flag capacity or timeline risk to the CD proactively
- Communicate turnaround expectations clearly to buyers and internal partners
- Enforce file standards, naming conventions, and specs established by the CD
What You Bring
Must have
- 4 to 6 years of graphic design experience in apparel, fashion retail, or licensed product
- A portfolio that shows real craft on physical product: tees, packaging, tags, print graphics
- Strong typography skills and genuine opinions about type as a design tool
- Some experience informally leading, mentoring, or organizing the work of other designers
- Curious about AI tools and not precious about using them. You do not need to be an expert but you need to be willing to figure it out and bring the team along
- Proficient in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
- A direct communication style that earns trust from designers and cross-functional partners
Strong asset
- Experience in fast-fashion, value retail, or mass-market apparel
- Background in licensed or branded apparel programs
- Exposure to trend reporting, seasonal direction, or retail scouting
- Experience with Microsoft Planner or a comparable production management tool
- An interest in the business of fashion, not just the aesthetic of it
What we offer:
· Competitive Compensation Package
· Health and Dental Benefits Plan
· Paid Sick Days
· Employee Discount
· Tuition Reimbursement
· Ongoing Training and Development
· Career Advancement Opportunities
· Being part of an amazing, supportive and collaborative team
YM Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. If chosen to participate in the selection process, accommodations are available upon request. We will consult with the applicant to provide or arrange suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs.
This posting is for an open vacancy.
We use AI in our hiring process.
Pay: $70,000.00-$95,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Store discount
- Vision care
Ability to commute/relocate:
- North York, ON M6A 2W1: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Graphic Design in Apparel : 4 years (required)
- mentoring, or organizing the work of other designers: 1 year (required)
- licensed or branded apparel programs: 3 years (required)
Work Location: In person
