What are the responsibilities and job description for the Fabric Manager position at SBH Fashion?
Job Title: Fabric Manager
Position Summary
The Fabric Manager is responsible for leading the fabric sourcing, research, development, purchasing, and approval process across nominated and full-package programs. This role works closely with Design, Product Development, Production, mills, agents, and factories to ensure fabrics are sourced, developed, cost-engineered, approved, and delivered in alignment with the seasonal calendar.
The Fabric Manager must have a strong understanding of textile construction, fabric costing, mill capabilities, minimums, sample yardage needs, bulk approval requirements, and production timelines. This position requires strong organization, proactive follow-up, and the ability to manage multiple fabric programs across wovens, cut-and-sew knits, and denim.
Key Responsibilities
Position Summary
The Fabric Manager is responsible for leading the fabric sourcing, research, development, purchasing, and approval process across nominated and full-package programs. This role works closely with Design, Product Development, Production, mills, agents, and factories to ensure fabrics are sourced, developed, cost-engineered, approved, and delivered in alignment with the seasonal calendar.
The Fabric Manager must have a strong understanding of textile construction, fabric costing, mill capabilities, minimums, sample yardage needs, bulk approval requirements, and production timelines. This position requires strong organization, proactive follow-up, and the ability to manage multiple fabric programs across wovens, cut-and-sew knits, and denim.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute fabric sourcing strategies for both nominated and full-package programs across wovens, cut-and-sew, and denim categories.
- Work closely with the Design team during the fabric selection process to identify appropriate fabric options based on design intent, costing goals, construction, hand feel, performance, and production needs.
- Partner with mills, agents, and factories to ensure flexibility on minimum order quantities for both sampling and bulk production.
- Organize, update, and maintain the generic fabric library, seasonal fabric research, and fabric archive for use by Design, Product Development, and Production teams.
- Place sample fabric purchase orders and coordinate sample yardage shipments to domestic and overseas factories.
- Attend weekly Product Development meetings to review active development groups, fabric status, approvals, risks, and outstanding issues.
- Maintain detailed WIP reports and fabric charts with all relevant fabric information, including mill, construction, content, weight, width, price, minimums, lead times, sample status, bulk status, and approval status.
- Ensure all Fabric Detail Sheets are complete and accurate each season.
- Maintain sample yardage inventory at domestic and overseas factories to support proto samples, salesman samples, fit samples, and other development needs.
- Establish bulk fabric standards and manage the approval process from initial standard setting through bulk approval and receipt.
- Partner with Production to resolve fabric issues related to quality, construction, color, shrinkage, testing, cost, delivery, and bulk consistency.
- Identify cost-engineering opportunities by evaluating alternate constructions, mills, finishes, blends, widths, and sourcing options while maintaining design and quality expectations.
- Communicate regularly with mills, factories, agents, Design, Product Development, and Production to ensure all parties are aligned on fabric status, deadlines, and responsibilities.
- Proactively identify potential delays or risks and recommend solutions to keep development and production on schedule.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in fabric research and development, fabric sourcing, and/or fabric purchasing.
- Strong knowledge of textile construction, including wovens, knits, denim, yarns, finishes, weights, widths, shrinkage, and fabric performance.
- Ability to cost-engineer fabrics while balancing design intent, quality requirements, and production needs.
- Experience working with domestic and overseas mills, agents, factories, and full-package vendors.
- Strong understanding of sample yardage, bulk fabric approvals, standard setting, and production calendar management.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities at the same time.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to follow up consistently until issues are resolved.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Outlook.
- Ability to work cross-functionally with Design, Product Development, Production, Sourcing, and factory teams.
- Experience in children’s apparel, fashion apparel, or consumer goods.
- Knowledge of fabric testing, compliance, and performance requirements.
- Experience maintaining fabric libraries, fabric WIP reports, seasonal development charts, and fabric detail sheets.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, calendar-driven environment with multiple seasons in development and production at the same time.
Salary : $90,000 - $120,000