Trend & Design

Pepkor has the largest retail store footprint in southern Africa. With 5 470 stores operating across 10 African countries, our businesses include many of the most trusted brands on the continent. Pepkors Speciality division provides central infrastructure to launch new brands, nurture smaller brands and position new fashion and footwear acquisitions. Speciality brings together the speciality brands of Dunns, Shoe City, Refinery and Tekkie Town, SPCC and CODE. Each company has a rich and distinctive history and a thorough understanding of their products, fabrics, designs and the needs of their customers. Over the past two decades South Africa has suffered the demise of specialism. Because of the challenges of economies of scale, specialist companies cant compete against the mass market. Specialism in fashion has been replaced by uniformity. At Speciality we believe that specialists are a vital part of Africas vibrant retail environment. Products should be made or selected by experts so that customers can exercise their choice and their right to benefit from the specialists expertise. Our aim is to activate specialists to provide inclusivity to both our staff and the people we serve. Speciality is delighted to be resurrecting the era of specialism. By combining five specialist companies we have been able to create economies of scale in supply chain, IT and financial systems. This means that products of choice that should be exclusively priced can be inclusively priced, so that our customers can purchase uniqueness without an exorbitant price tag. Speciality has over 900 stores in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. Our world-class retail operating platform was built for maximisation as we expand our footprint with more speciality brands in future. Job Description An apparel graphic designer is responsible for the end-to-end development of print and surface artwork across ladies' wear apparel, accessories, footwear, and beauty. Working within the design team and closely alongside buying, the successful candidate will translate seasonal trend direction into commercially viable, production-ready print artwork—from initial concept through to supplier handover and sampling sign-off. Qualifications Diploma or Degree in Graphic Design or Textile Design or a related creative discipline Minimum 3 years in an apparel graphic design role, with a focus on print and surface artwork for ladieswear Demonstrable portfolio of print work across multiple techniques (AOP, placement, motif, embroidery). Advanced Adobe Illustrator (essential); Adobe Photoshop (essential); CorelDRAW (advantageous); InDesign (advantageous) Knowledge, Skills and Experience High attention to detail — artwork accuracy is non-negotiable Commercially aware — understands price point and sell-through Works well under pressure; manages multiple briefs to deadline Self-motivated; takes ownership from brief to approval Comprehensive understanding of local and international fashion trends, consumer behavior, and retail design principles. Strong ability to interpret global fashion, lifestyle, and cultural trends and translate them into commercially successful visual merchandising concepts. Knowledge of color theory, typography, spatial planning, visual composition, and store aesthetics. Understanding of seasonal merchandise planning, trend forecasting, and fashion cycles. Knowledge of store layout optimization, product presentation techniques, and customer traffic flow. Experience in developing and implementing window displays, in-store campaigns, and point-of-sale (POS) materials. Ability to create visually compelling in-store experiences that align with brand identity and enhance the customer journey. Key Responsibilities Develop all-over print (AOP) repeat artwork for various materials across seasonal ranges. Create placement, engineered, and sublimation prints with accurate garment position mapping. Monitor macro and micro trend direction; translate references into print concept decks for buying alignment. Contribute to seasonal mood board and range direction presentations. Compile complete print briefs for supplier handover: repeat dimensions, substrate, colorways, technique, and placement diagrams. Review strike-offs and raise and track amendment requests. Maintain an organized, version-controlled artwork library by season and technique. Work to agreed critical path milestones and escalate risks to the design manager or buyer promptly. Attend design reviews and range sign-off meetings; incorporate feedback efficiently. Collaborative and receptive to buyer and design feedback Deadline:21st August,2026