Fashion Designer Lead (Volunteer)

Fashion Designer Lead (Volunteer)

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Division: Thread & Promise – Fashion, Innovation & Community Design

Location: New York City and/or Remote via Google Meet

Type: Volunteer (Unpaid)

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City nonprofit dedicated to supporting children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability. Through mentorship, literacy, creative expression, storytelling, and community-centered innovation, MAP builds safe, consistent spaces where young people can explore identity, confidence, and possibility.

Thread & Promise is MAP’s fashion and design initiative. It uses fashion as storytelling, cultural expression, and empowerment—centering dignity, sustainability, and youth voice over trends or profit.

Why This Role Matters

The Fashion Designer Lead exists to ensure that Thread & Promise designs are thoughtful, ethical, and aligned with MAP’s values. This role is not about fast fashion or production pressure—it is about craft, intention, mentorship, and meaning.

You will help shape how fashion is used as a tool for storytelling, creativity, and empowerment, while supporting a collaborative team of designers, makers, and youth contributors.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the creative vision and design direction for Thread & Promise fashion projects.
• Design apparel, accessories, and/or footwear from concept through prototype.
• Develop mood boards, sketches, technical flats, and design documentation.
• Collaborate with pattern makers, sample makers, textile specialists, and sustainability partners.
• Ensure designs reflect MAP’s values: dignity, cultural responsiveness, accessibility, and ethical practice.
• Mentor and support junior designers, volunteers, and youth participants with care and respect.
• Partner with storytelling, marketing, and media teams to support launches and exhibitions.
• Support thoughtful timelines and workflows that prioritize quality over urgency.
• Integrate feedback and continuously refine design processes and creative output.
• Check and respond to emails daily, with responses within 48 hours.

How MAP Supports You

• Clear role scope, expectations, and creative autonomy
• Respect for your time, capacity, and boundaries
• Collaborative leadership—not top-down direction
• Constructive feedback and space for growth
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• Recognition of your work as meaningful, skilled contribution—not “free labor”

What We’re Looking For

• Experience in fashion design (apparel, accessories, or footwear).
• A strong portfolio showing concept development and execution.
• Ability to lead creative projects with collaboration and care.
• Understanding of garment construction, textiles, and design workflows.
• Strong communication, organization, and mentorship skills.
• Commitment to ethical, sustainable, and mission-driven design.

Bonus (Not Required)

• Experience with pattern making or sampling
• Knowledge of sustainable or upcycled materials
• Experience mentoring youth or early-career creatives
• Bilingual or multilingual abilities (Spanish or Haitian Creole preferred)

Commitment & Boundaries

• Volunteer role, approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred
• Hybrid: NYC and/or remote via Google Meet
• We value consistency, not burnout

Application Process

Please send your resume, LinkedIn profile, and design portfolio to

hr@mentorapromise.org

Subject line: Fashion Designer Lead – Thread & Promise

You may also apply directly here:

https://forms.gle/ptgy2zBZXJB1q7GV8

Design with purpose — help shape fashion that honors culture, uplifts youth, and reflects the humanity at the heart of Mentor A Promise.