Senior Fabric & Wash Development Manager

Title: Senior Fabric and Wash Development Manager
Company Description: Global Apparel Brand
Location: New York, New York
Salary: $80,000-$125,000
*Salary is commensurate with experience and is an estimated range provided by JPSearch*

Responsibilities:

• Lead fabric and wash development initiatives in collaboration with mills, factories, and internal sample rooms to reduce development timelines and improve execution
• Research market trends, competitive materials, and emerging fabric and wash techniques relevant to children’s apparel
• Source and develop seasonal materials—including fabrics, washes, and trims—aligned with design intent, sourcing capabilities, and cost targets
• Represent the brand at domestic and international fabric fairs and industry events to identify innovation opportunities
• Evaluate material requirements across brands and categories, recommending opportunities to standardize or scale fabrics for efficiency
• Build, maintain, and evolve a strategic global supplier base to support long?term sourcing and quality objectives
• Ensure all material development milestones and calendar deadlines are met to support seasonal delivery
• Own and maintain material data and libraries within PLM systems, including fabric and wash standards
• Negotiate pricing with fabric mills and vendors to align with financial targets and margin goals
• Partner with brand, design, and merchandising teams to identify hero fabrics that drive volume and consistency across collections
• Develop and maintain a physical and digital fabric and wash archive to support design inspiration and production approvals
• Track development progress, costing, and approvals across suppliers to ensure smooth transition from development to production
• Travel as needed to domestic and overseas mills and factories to support development and relationship management
• Lead or contribute to special projects supporting material innovation, sustainability, or process improvement

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in International Trade, Business, Fashion Merchandising, Textiles, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years of experience in fabric development, wash development, or sourcing within the apparel industry
• Strong expertise in denim, woven fabrics, and wash processes
• Proven experience working with international mills, agents, and manufacturers
• Strong negotiation skills with a solid understanding of costing and margin drivers
• Proficiency in PLM systems and material management processes
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple timelines and priorities
• Clear, effective communication skills across cross?functional and global teams
• Experience supporting multi?brand or global apparel organizations
• Familiarity with sustainability initiatives and responsible material sourcing
• Ability to influence cross?functional teams and drive material strategies at a senior level