CMF Designer

1. Knit Development and Upper Design You will research yarns, knit structures and engineered knitting techniques suitable for footwear applications. You will develop zonal upper concepts based on ergonomic, functional and growth-accommodation requirements. You will create swatches, knit studies, upper maps and material directions for existing and future products. You will collaborate with knit vendors to translate selected concepts into samples and prototypes. You will help build a structured library of yarns, knit techniques, samples and supplier capabilities for Aretto. 2. Colour, Material and Finish Design You will develop colour, material and finish directions for Aretto’s footwear collections. You will research relevant developments across textiles, footwear, lifestyle, culture and adjacent design industries. You will create product-specific palettes, colourways and material stories across uppers, trims, components and soles. You will explore colour and surface expression through yarn combinations, knit patterns, textures, finishes and material contrasts. You will contribute to creating a distinctive and recognisable CMF language for Aretto. 3. Material Research Beyond Knit You will research non-knit textiles and materials that complement the design and technical requirements of Aretto footwear. You will explore materials such as engineered mesh, woven textiles, spacer fabrics, elastics, films, foams, reinforcements, linings and trims. You will study how different materials and construction methods can be combined within an integrated upper system. You will assess material options based on technical performance, comfort, durability, manufacturability and visual relevance. You will identify new material opportunities through supplier interaction, market research and cross-industry references. 4. Prototyping and Product Development You will translate design research into swatches, mock-ups, upper trials and footwear prototypes. You will work with footwear designers, product developers, engineers, suppliers and manufacturing partners throughout the development process. You will participate in prototype reviews and refine materials, constructions, colourways and surface treatments through multiple iterations. You will prepare upper maps, material call-outs, colour references, technical drawings and vendor communication documents. You will support selected concepts as they progress from initial exploration towards production-ready development. 5. Design Research and Documentation You will conduct focused research in children’s footwear, textile innovation, material technology and footwear manufacturing. You will study Aretto’s products, sole architecture, sizing system and growing-feet design approach. You will organise research and design directions into clear visual presentations, material boards and development reports. You will maintain structured records of experiments, swatches, prototypes, specifications and key development learnings. You will present your findings to the Aretto team and contribute to the company’s long-term knit, CMF and upper-material strategy.