About Us:
Pistola is redefining modern denim through craftsmanship and innovation, blending timeless style with forward-thinking design to create iconic, sustainable, and functional pieces that inspire confidence in every fit. As a Los Angeles-based contemporary apparel brand under KNG—Pistola and Daze—we're known for effortlessly elevated essentials with a clean, cool California aesthetic.
Position Overview:
Pistola is in an exciting phase of explosive growth—and we’re looking for a Head of Merchandising to shape the future of our product across denim and ready-to-wear. This is a high-impact leadership role where creativity meets strategy, and instinct meets data.
As the driver of our merchandising vision, you’ll lead line architecture and product strategy across DTC, wholesale, and private label channels. You’ll play quarterback to cross-functional teams—partnering with Design, Planning, Production, and Sales—to build smart, cohesive assortments that are trend-right, margin-positive, and built to move fast.
If you’re a product visionary who can balance art and analytics—and you thrive in a high-velocity, style-savvy environment—this is your chance to leave a bold mark on a brand that’s just getting started.
What You’ll Do:
- Set the vision. Own the end-to-end merchandising strategy and seasonal assortment framework—ensuring alignment with brand DNA, financial goals, and evolving customer needs.
- Lead the line. Partner with Design to build trend-right assortments that strike the right balance of newness, commercial viability, and margin health.
- Own and scale new categories. As we expand beyond our core, you’ll take the lead in shaping category strategies that align with brand goals and drive both topline growth and profitability. You’ll have a clear pulse on the competitive landscape and know how to position Pistola to stand out—whether we’re introducing new fits, fabrications, or entirely new divisions.
- Build seasonal growth strategies. Use your deep understanding of our customer, brand positioning, and market dynamics to craft smart, forward-thinking merchandising strategies. Every season, you’ll help ensure we’re making the right bets—ones that feel fresh, make commercial sense, and deliver results.
- Be the driver behind the data and the instinct. You’ll bring a mix of creativity, commercial know-how, and detailed obsession to everything you do. From the high-level line architecture to the nitty-gritty of margin impact, you know how to prioritize what moves the needle—and keep the team focused on what matters most.
- Manage the product lifecycle. From seasonal concept to final delivery, you’ll lead cross-functional collaboration to meet calendar milestones and financial targets.
- Drive trend and market analysis. Conduct deep competitive research, trend forecasting, and consumer insights to inform product decisions and whitespace opportunities.
- Develop the team. Lead and mentor a growing merchandising function, empowering junior team members and establishing best practices across tools, data, and storytelling.
- Balance art and science. Marry creativity with commerce—using weekly recaps, sales insights, and sell-through data to inform future drops and category growth.
- Champion speed and profitability. Identify levers to improve margin, reduce time to market, and evolve how we go to market across core, fashion, and capsule assortments.
- Ensure merchandising excellence. Maintain the accuracy of all merchandising tools—from assortment plans and line sheets to margin trackers and seasonal presentations.
- Collaborate cross-functionally. Serve as a key partner to Sales, Production, and Planning to ensure product alignment, margin targets, and successful wholesale sell-in.
- Own special projects. Lead exclusive capsules, off-calendar initiatives, and category expansion with a strong POV and attention to execution.
Who You Are:
- 8–10 years' of merchandising experience with a strong foundation in contemporary fashion, premium denim, or adjacent lifestyle categories
- 5+ years’ experience leading high performing merchandising teams
- Proven success leading product strategy across both DTC and wholesale channels
- A sharp eye for trend, styling, and category opportunity—with a strong aesthetic sensibility
- Expertise in line planning, pricing strategy, and product lifecycle management
- Highly analytical but intuitive—you use data to inform, not dictate
- Comfortable presenting to leadership and influencing cross-functional stakeholders
- Proactive, results-driven, and excited to lead in a fast-paced, evolving environment
- Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, or related field is preferred
