What are the responsibilities and job description for the Fabric R&D Manager position at SBH Fashion?
Role Overview
The Fabric R&D Manager will be responsible for sourcing and developing fabrics that align with brand aesthetics and target margins, managing strong mill relationships to ensure quality and competitiveness. This role requires agility, deep market and mill knowledge, and a solutions-oriented mindset to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities:
The Fabric R&D Manager will be responsible for sourcing and developing fabrics that align with brand aesthetics and target margins, managing strong mill relationships to ensure quality and competitiveness. This role requires agility, deep market and mill knowledge, and a solutions-oriented mindset to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead fabric sourcing and development across woven and knit categories, ensuring alignment with design vision and brand price points.
- Maintain strong relationships with domestic and international mills to secure the best quality fabrics at competitive costs.
- Evaluate store-bought samples and efficiently counter-source comparable or improved qualities to meet margin and aesthetic goals.
- Partner with mills to redevelop or engineer fabrics when initial prices are too high, ensuring minimal compromise on hand feel and quality.
- Provide fabric recommendations to design and merchandising teams based on trend research, mill capabilities, and pricing requirements.
- Manage fabric R&D calendars to align with design and production timelines.
- Monitor market trends and mill innovations to bring newness and cost efficiencies to each season’s fabric assortment.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with design, production, and technical teams to ensure fabric suitability from concept through final production.
- Thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment while managing multiple priorities with accuracy and efficiency.
- Strong mill network with proven experience in both woven and knit fabric sourcing and development.
- Deep understanding of cost engineering fabrics to align with target price points without sacrificing brand standards.
- Skilled in counter sourcing store-bought samples to comparable or superior qualities.
- Excellent negotiation and relationship management skills with mills and vendors.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable to shifting priorities.
- Strong communication skills to effectively collaborate with internal design and production teams.
- Passion for fabric innovation and delivering commercial solutions at speed.
Salary : $110,000 - $120,000