Jigsaw has appointed Melanie Walker as Design Director to lead the next chapter of the brand’s product and creative direction.
Walker brings more than two decades of experience across luxury and contemporary fashion, with a track record of turning a clear creative point of view into collections that sell.
The appointment comes as Jigsaw’s turnaround continues to build momentum. The brand this week reported an 18% year-on-year increase in sales for Spring/Summer 2026, with growth across stores, online and concessions, building on a Christmas 2025 trading period in which sales rose 26%.
Product drove the season, with dresses up 43% on the strength of occasion wear and print. Walker’s brief is to build on that: more of the pieces customers are already buying, a sharper and more recognisable Jigsaw signature, and a product offer that holds its shape as the brand grows across channels and into the US.
Walker joined Victoria Beckham in 2008 as the brand’s first employee. She played a key role in establishing the brand’s ready-to-wear infrastructure and was promoted to Head of Design, Ready-to- Wear in 2013, leading the design and development of mainline and pre-collections and overseeing the design and studio teams.
Her career began at Roland Mouret, followed by Jonathan Saunders and FREDA, the in-house womenswear label at Matches Fashion, where she became Head of Design. Since 2017, she has worked as an independent design consultant to luxury and contemporary brands including Hurlingham 1875, Alice Made This and Paper London. Most recently, she led revitalization and rebrand of all uniform design for Abercrombie & Kent’s as part of their global brand repositioning.
Walker’s appointment follows Jigsaw’s strategic reset in 2025, which installed a refreshed leadership team led by Tikki Godley as Managing Director, and the appointment of Chris Browne as Retail Director in April 2026 to lead the opening of 10 new UK stores. The brand launches this Autumn/Winter through the Nordstrom and Macy’s marketplaces in the US.
Commenting on her appointment, Melanie Walker said: “It is a great honour to join Jigsaw as Design Director. I have always been inspired by the rich history of this British brand and its strong connection to arts and culture. Excellent quality, fit and fabric will be at the forefront of every design decision. I look forward to working with the Atelier team to craft the next chapter of this iconic brand’s story.”
Tikki Godley, Managing Director at Jigsaw, said: “I have followed Melanie’s career over the years and am confident she will bring a creative and modern vision to Jigsaw, inspired by our rich history making clothes for people who care about how clothes are made: quality, fit and fabric, and a commitment to backing British design. Melanie will be supported by our wonderful team in the Atelier who will bring her creativity to life.”
