APPAREL PRODUCT DEVELOPER FOR ENTERTAINMENT LICENSED IP

The Wild Collective | Las Vegas, NV

Location:

Las Vegas, NV — In-Office Position

Employment Type:

Full-Time

Experience Required:

5+ Years in Entertainment Licensed IP Apparel

ABOUT THE WILD COLLECTIVE

The Wild Collective is a fashion-forward apparel brand redefining the intersection of sports, entertainment, and culture. We specialize in creating elevated, trend-driven collections that bring some of the world's most recognizable licensed properties into everyday fashion.

With partnerships spanning major professional sports leagues, entertainment brands, and leading national retailers, The Wild Collective is continuing to expand its presence across the fashion and licensing industries.

We are looking for an experienced, highly detail-oriented Apparel Product Developer to join our growing team at our Las Vegas headquarters.

THE ROLE

The Apparel Product Developer will play a critical role in bringing our creative vision to life, overseeing product development from initial design handoff through production approval.

This individual must have extensive experience developing apparel within the entertainment licensing industry, including a strong understanding of licensed intellectual property (IP), brand guidelines, approval processes, technical development, and overseas manufacturing.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical apparel knowledge with a fashion-forward mindset, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple collections across different licensed properties simultaneously.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Product Development & Execution

• Manage the end-to-end product development process from initial design concept through production-ready approval.
• Partner closely with the Creative, Design, Sourcing, and Production teams to execute seasonal collections.
• Translate design concepts into detailed, production-ready specifications and technical packages.
• Oversee fabric development, trims, embellishments, washes, graphics, embroidery, and specialty construction techniques.
• Manage sample development, fit sessions, revisions, and final sample approvals.
• Ensure all products meet quality, fit, construction, and aesthetic standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve product quality, construction, and cost efficiencies without compromising design integrity.

Entertainment Licensing & IP Compliance

• Manage product development across multiple entertainment and licensed IP properties.
• Ensure all products adhere to individual licensor brand guidelines, artwork restrictions, and product requirements.
• Coordinate licensed product submissions, revisions, and approval tracking.
• Work closely with internal licensing teams to ensure products receive required approvals before production.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the unique development requirements associated with entertainment properties, character licensing, and brand collaborations.
• Proactively identify potential compliance issues and resolve them before they impact development timelines.

Vendor & Manufacturing Management

• Communicate directly with domestic and overseas manufacturing partners throughout the development process.
• Review and provide detailed feedback on prototypes, lab dips, strike-offs, trims, and pre-production samples.
• Collaborate with sourcing partners to achieve target costs, margins, and delivery timelines.
• Troubleshoot technical, construction, material, and production challenges.
• Maintain clear, consistent communication with vendors to ensure development accuracy and on-time execution.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Design, Licensing, Merchandising, Sourcing, and Production to ensure successful product execution.
• Manage multiple development calendars and seasonal launches simultaneously.
• Track product development milestones, sample statuses, approvals, and critical deadlines.
• Ensure all product information, specifications, and development records are accurate and organized.
• Anticipate potential development challenges and proactively recommend solutions.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 5 years of professional apparel product development experience specifically within Entertainment Licensed IP.
• Demonstrated experience developing licensed apparel for entertainment, character, studio, or major consumer product brands.
• Strong understanding of entertainment licensing guidelines, approval workflows, and IP compliance.
• Proven experience managing apparel development from design concept through production approval.
• Advanced knowledge of garment construction, fabrication, fit, washes, embellishments, and finishing techniques.
• Experience working directly with overseas factories and manufacturing partners.
• Strong understanding of technical packages, garment specifications, and sample evaluation.
• Experience managing multiple product categories, collections, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Adobe Illustrator; experience with PLM systems preferred.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative creative environment.
• Must be able to work full-time, on-site at The Wild Collective's Las Vegas office.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Direct experience developing apparel for major entertainment licensors such as Disney, Sanrio, Warner Bros., Universal, or comparable entertainment IP owners.
• Experience with fashion-forward licensed apparel, including elevated silhouettes, specialty fabrics, and premium embellishments.
• Background developing apparel for major national retailers and specialty fashion accounts.
• Experience managing both entertainment and professional sports licensed apparel.
• Familiarity with licensed product submission and approval platforms.
• Experience working across women's, men's, unisex, and children's apparel categories.

WHY JOIN THE WILD COLLECTIVE?

This is an opportunity to join a growing, female-founded fashion brand working at the intersection of some of the world's most influential sports and entertainment properties.

You'll collaborate directly with a passionate creative and product team, help shape collections for major retail partners, and play an integral role in the continued growth of The Wild Collective.