Designer with Muslin Skills (Volunteer / Pro Bono)

Designer with Muslin Skills (Volunteer / Pro Bono)

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Location: Remote and/or New York City

Type: Volunteer (Unpaid)

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a nonprofit organization supporting children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability in New York City. Through mentorship, academic enrichment, literacy development, creative expression, and housing initiatives, MAP creates safe, consistent, and empowering spaces where young people can grow and thrive.

Our fashion and creative initiative, Thread & Promise, integrates style, storytelling, and social impact. We design apparel, accessories, and merchandise that uplift community narratives. We are now seeking a designer with strong muslin / prototyping skills to bring ideas from sketch to drape, helping us refine fit, form, and function before final garments are produced.

Role Overview

We are seeking a skilled Designer with muslin draping and prototyping abilities to join the creative team. This person will create muslin/toile samples (prototypes) from design sketches, refine fit and form, and translate those prototypes into final pattern adjustments. You’ll work closely with apparel designers, production teams, and creatives to help bridge the gap between vision and wearable garment.

Key Responsibilities

• Interpret design sketches and translate into muslin prototypes / toiles
• Draping on dress forms, fitting muslins, and iterating to achieve desired silhouette
• Assist with pattern adjustments based on muslin to final patterns
• Collaborate with the creative and production teams to refine fit, proportion, and design details
• Document changes, track versions, and maintain clear records of muslin-to-pattern progression
• Provide technical feedback on construction, fabric behavior, and design feasibility
• Support sample fittings and modifications
• Check and respond to emails daily, ensuring responses within 48 hours
• Take responsibility for performance improvement by streamlining prototyping workflow and reducing revisions

Qualifications

• Experience in fashion design, apparel construction, or garment development
• Skills in draping and creating muslin prototypes (toiles)
• Understanding of patternmaking and garment construction
• Ability to translate sketches into three-dimensional forms
• Strong attention to detail, patience, and persistence through iteration
• Good communication skills, ability to collaborate with design and production teams
• Portfolio of sample work, muslin to final garments, or prototypes
• Familiarity with sustainable and ethical fashion practices is a plus

Commitment

• Volunteer 5–10 hours per week (adjustable)
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred
• Remote and NYC-based hybrid work (muslin draping likely requires in-person work on dress forms)

What You Will Gain

• Hands-on experience in garment development and prototyping
• Opportunity to see your designs evolve from muslin to finished product
• Collaboration with fashion creatives, nonprofits, and mission-driven storytelling
• Portfolio work that demonstrates technical skill and design development
• Professional references, mentorship, and exposure in nonprofit fashion contexts

Application Process

Please send your resume, LinkedIn profile, and a portfolio (especially showing muslin/toile or prototype work) to hr@mentorapromise.org with the subject line “Designer with Muslin Skills.”

You may also apply directly here: https://forms.gle/ptgy2zBZXJB1q7GV8

Design with purpose. With Thread & Promise, your muslins will help bring stories, identity, and hope into every garment we produce.