Location: Brooklyn, NY (in-person / hybrid) Type: Freelance / Project-Based (with potential for ongoing collaboration) Reports to: Founder/Designer
About Robin The Baddie
Robin The Baddie (RTB) is a 1-of-1 upcycled and reconstructed streetwear line. We take existing garments apart and rebuild them into something new — which means our pattern work starts with deconstruction, not a blank page.
Role Overview
We're looking for a Pattern Maker who can take an existing garment, break it down to understand how it was built, and turn that into a usable, adjustable pattern. This isn't standard flat-pattern-from-scratch work — you'll be reverse-engineering finished pieces (often vintage or secondhand) and translating them into patterns we can modify, grade, and reproduce as 1-of-1 or small-batch pieces.
Core Responsibilities
- Deconstruction: Rip seams and disassemble garments cleanly to preserve panel shapes, seam allowances, and construction details
- Pattern drafting from existing garments: Convert deconstructed panels into an accurate, clean pattern (block/sloper) reflecting the original construction
- Pattern correction & improvement: Identify fit, drape, or construction issues in the original garment and correct them in the new pattern
- Grading: Size patterns up and down accurately across a size range while preserving proportion and fit intent
- Fit adjustments: Modify patterns for specific fit changes (e.g., cropped length, looser sleeve, altered silhouette) based on design direction
- Documentation: Label and organize pattern pieces, seam allowances, and notches clearly for repeatable use
- Collaboration: Work directly with the designer to translate reconstruction concepts into technically sound patterns
Requirements
- Proven experience in pattern making, pattern grading, and garment construction
- Strong hand-pattern skills (digital/CAD patternmaking — e.g., Gerber, Optitex — a plus but not required)
- Experience deconstructing/reverse-engineering existing garments
- Understanding of garment fit across multiple body types and sizes
- Comfortable working with unconventional, vintage, or damaged source materials
- Strong attention to detail and clean, organized pattern documentation
- Ability to problem-solve fit and construction issues independently
Nice to Have
- Background in upcycled/reconstructed or streetwear design
- Draping experience in addition to flat patternmaking
- Familiarity with grading rules for both up-sizing and down-sizing
- Portfolio of prior deconstruction/reconstruction pattern work
What to Submit
- Portfolio or photos of prior pattern work (especially any deconstruction/reconstruction projects)
- Brief description of your process for taking a finished garment and turning it into a pattern
- Availability and rate (per project or hourly)
Pay: $17.00 - $20.00 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Brooklyn, NY 11201
