Title: Fabric Development Manager
Location: New York, NY (4x/week onsite, 1 day WFH)
Company: Privately owned apparel company
Salary: $80-100k
Salary/Hourly rate is commensurate with experience and is an estimated range provided by JPSearch
Our client is a global apparel company based in New York City. We are recruiting for a Fabric Development Manager to join their team! Candidates should have 5 years of experience with a fashion organization and a strong apparel background.
Responsibilities
· Lead the fabric development process from concept through bulk production handoff, ensuring all materials meet quality, cost, aesthetic, and timeline objectives.
· Source and develop seasonal fabrics, trims, washes, and raw materials that align with design vision, sourcing capabilities, and financial targets.
· Build and manage relationships with domestic and international mills, suppliers, laundries, and factories.
· Partner cross-functionally with Design, Product Development, Technical Design, Production, Merchandising, and Sourcing to ensure timely material approvals and seamless execution.
· Maintain the PLM material library, fabric archives, and wash standards to ensure accurate documentation and support seasonal development.
· Research industry trends and identify innovative materials and supplier opportunities to enhance the product offering.
· Analyze fabric utilization across brands and recommend opportunities to leverage materials, optimize costs, improve lead times, and support business objectives.
Education and Experience
· Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising, Textile Science, Product Development, Apparel Manufacturing, Business, International Trade, or a related field.
· 5+ years of experience in Fabric Development, Raw Materials Development, or Sourcing within the apparel industry.
Qualifications
· Strong knowledge of textile construction, yarns, knitting, weaving, dyeing, printing, finishing, and garment wash development.
· Strong knowledge of managing product development from concept through production handoff
· Strong understanding of apparel manufacturing and the product development lifecycle.
· Strong organizational skills
· Ability to work in a fluid, fast-paced, multi-channel environment
· Detail oriented and able to handle multiple tasks at once
· Ability to work independently and work to meet multiple deadlines
· Ability to build and maintain relationships with other departments as well as vendors and other overseas offices
· Adaptable mindset with ability to switch gears
· Strong PLM, Microsoft Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and PLM systems
· Experience sourcing fabrics, trims, and sample materials from domestic and overseas suppliers.
· Familiarity with sustainability initiatives, recycled materials, and responsible sourcing practices.
· Experience working directly with overseas factories and international vendors.
· Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate professionally across global teams.
· Experience developing products for children's apparel, private label, or licensed brands.