Apparel Product Developer

Royal Leamington Spa; Royal Leamington Spa; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Ridgeline is seeking an experienced Apparel Product Developer to turn creative concepts into high-quality products ready for manufacture. You will manage the development across mid-layer and lifestyle collections, ensuring performance, fit, and cost targets while coordinating with global partners.

You will own the seasonal critical path, lead fit sessions and ensure compliance with market requirements. Experience with waterproof outerwear is welcome but not essential, and travel to manufacturing

Qualifications

• Three+ years in apparel or garment product development.
• Experience with soft-goods construction, pattern adjustment, grading and fabrics.
• Ability to create and maintain detailed tech packs, BOMs and measurement specs.
• Experience managing seasonal critical paths and international supplier deadlines.
• Proficiency in Illustrator/Photoshop for tech flats and advanced Excel for trackers/costings.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end seasonal product development critical path.
• Track prototypes, lab dips, approvals and production deadlines.
• Translate designs into production-ready tech packs.
• Create workbooks and BOMs with measurements and construction notes.
• Source and evaluate fabrics, trims and components for durability and performance.
• Assess materials for comfort, shrinkage, wash stability and colourfastness.
• Oversee garment quality and durability across ranges.
• Serve as main UK/overseas manufacturer contact.
• Review and negotiate garment costs to hit margin targets.
• Lead fit sessions and document samples.
• Resolve issues on patterns, balance, grading and movement.
• Approve samples for bulk production.
• Ensure products meet current and upcoming market legislation.
• Support small range of hard-goods accessories when required.

Skills

Apparel product development

Pattern adjustment

Grading

Fabric weights

Fibre blend characteristics

Manufacturing processes

Tech packs

Bills of Materials

Costing and margins

Communication

Supplier management

Travel readiness

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Excel

Job description

About the Role

Ridgeline is looking for an experienced Apparel Product Developer to turn creative concepts into high-quality, commercially viable products ready for manufacture.You will manage the development process across our mid-layer and country lifestyle collections, including knitwear, fleeces, shirts, casual trousers and selected accessories. You will be responsible for product performance, fabric durability, wash stability, pricing structures and fit perfection across each of these categories. You will also own the seasonal critical path, coordinate with our global manufacturing partners and ensure every product delivers the rugged construction, reliable performance and durability our customers expect. Experience developing waterproof outerwear is welcome but not essential. Depending on the successful candidate's experience, the role may also include responsibility for waterproof technical shells, seam-taped garments and membrane technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and manage the end-to-end seasonal product development critical path.
• Track prototypes, samples, lab dips, approvals and production deadlines to support on-time global delivery.
• Translate design concepts and sketches into accurate, production-ready tech packs.
• Work closely with the designer to create product workbooks and Bills of Materials (BOMs), including measurement specifications and detailed construction notes.
• Source and evaluate durable fabrics, trims and components, including heavyweight anti-pill fleece, cotton blends and performance synthetics.
• Assess materials for comfort, abrasion resistance, shrinkage, colourfastness, wash stability and overall performance.
• Oversee product quality to ensure fabrics, trims and components withstand repeated use and washing.
• Act as the main day-to-day contact for UK and overseas manufacturers.
• Review and negotiate garment costs to achieve margin targets without compromising product quality.
• Lead fit sessions alongside the design team, accurately measuring and documenting samples.
• Identify and resolve issues relating to patterns, garment balance, grading, fit and freedom of movement.
• Manage sample approvals and issue final approval for bulk production.
• Own the quality, consistency, standards and performance of products manufactured for Ridgeline.
• Ensure products comply with current and upcoming legislation across all relevant markets.
• Support the development of a small range of hard-goods accessories when required.

Skills and Experience

• At least three years' experience in apparel or garment product development.
• Strong knowledge of soft-goods garment construction, pattern adjustment, grading, fabric weights, fibre blend characteristics and manufacturing processes. You will also be required to develop a small number of hard-goods accessories.
• Strong proven ability to fit and grade a wide variety of garments accurately and consistently.
• Experience creating and maintaining detailed tech packs, Bills of Materials and measurement specifications.
• Experience managing seasonal critical paths, multiple product styles and international supplier deadlines.
• Competence using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to edit technical flats.
• Advanced Excel skills for product trackers, specifications and costings.
• Excellent organisational skills and strong attention to detail.
• Confident written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate and negotiate calmly but firmly with manufacturing partners across different time zones.
• Experience developing fleeces, knitwear, lifestyle shirts, casual trousers, country workwear or performance mid-layers would be particularly valuable. Waterproof apparel experience is beneficial but not essential.

Desirable

• Experience developing waterproof technical apparel, seam-taped garments or membrane products.
• A personal interest or background in farming, agriculture, field sports or country and outdoor lifestyles.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally to visit manufacturing partners.
• Full UK driving licence.