Fabric Developer - Menswear

COS; London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a talented Fabric Developer to innovate and enhance material strategies. This role involves collaborating closely with design and production teams to source and develop fabrics that align with seasonal trends and sustainability goals. You will leverage your extensive fabric expertise to negotiate with suppliers and manage the entire development process, ensuring quality and compliance. Join a forward-thinking company that values creativity and sustainability, and enjoy a range of attractive benefits while contributing to a dynamic and inclusive workplace.

Benefits

25% Staff Discount

Up to 25 Days Holiday

Annual Health Checks

Pension Scheme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Discounted Gym Membership

Private Health & Dental Care

Employee Assistance via Retail Trust

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in fabric development within premium markets.
• Strong salesmanship and negotiation skills with material suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Develop components in time to meet seasonal goals and evaluate best deals.
• Manage new fabric trials and ensure compliance with safety standards.

Skills

Fabric Development

Material Sourcing

Negotiation Skills

Relationship Building

Organizational Skills

Fashion Trend Knowledge

Salesmanship

Education

Experience in Fabric Development

Knowledge of Fashion Trends

Job description

As a Fabric Developer at COS, you will secure brand aesthetics, innovation and trend relevance in our materials for each season. In this role you are responsible to execute the material strategy and components in line with our visual and commercial goals.

Working in close collaboration with design, buying and production you are responsible for material sourcing, development and booking utilization. You will have an extensive fabric expertise and sourcing experience, excellent taste combined with a strong business mindset to achieve unmatched value for money through fabric.

What you will do:

• Develop components in time to meet the seasonal critical path and in shop week plan, evaluate options and balance the best deal in terms of price, quality, lead time and sustainability.
• Push boundaries in terms of innovation to secure news value through fabrication.
• Drive progress in sustainable materials including both developing and scaling more sustainable solutions in line with material sustainability targets circularity principles.
• Develop in accordance with the seasonal material strategy and take responsibility for utilization of material bookings and potential liabilities.
• Directly manage the launch of new fabric trails with supplier, including prototypes for quality validation on carryover styles, strike-offs, handloom developments, design and colour trials, lab dips and finishings.
• Guide Fabric Developer Assistant to support the team and the process in the best possible way.
• Keep accurate records of timelines, materials, specifications, samples and material booking utilizations. Maintaining structure in both physical- and digital libraries as well as data quality in systems.
• Deliver fabric development requests clearly to our mills with sufficient time and clarity for development and drive the full development process of every component from start to end.
• Together with the quality assurance team, secure product safety standards and compliance through proactive risk assessments, technical expertise and guidance in the development process and testing in accordance with sales markets regulations and product claims.

Qualifications

Alignment to our company values is the most important characteristic we look for in all new joiners. Our values are the behaviours that we appreciate above and beyond anything else. We are open-minded and curious, we dare to be different, we believe in constant improvement and we empower and trust you to take ownership. Our values are part of who we are, what we stand for and how we act.

What you need to succeed:

• Extensive experience as a Fabric Developer within premium markets and a global supply chain context across multiple categories (menswear beneficial).
• Deep knowledge of advancements in material fashion trends, new innovations, and relevant industry developments.
• Customer-centric and passionate about fashion, with a genuine interest in the COS brand.
• Strong salesmanship, adept at driving and securing the best deals. Constantly seeking opportunities, identifying the right suppliers, and negotiating terms, pricing, and lead times with material suppliers.
• Excellent guide, relationship builder, and effective collaborator within direct and extended teams as well as with suppliers.
• Proven experience in optimizing well-known materials through proactive lab dipping, print preparations, and general planning for negotiation purposes.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and timelines.
• Flexibility to travel frequently to suppliers and fairs globally.

Additional information

This is a permanent full-time contract based at our Head Office in London.

Benefits

We offer all our employees attractive benefits with extensive development opportunities around the globe. All our employees receive a 25% staff discount usable on all our H&M Group brands in stores and online. In addition to our staff discount, all our employees are included in our H&M Incentive Program – HIP. You can read more about our H&M Incentive Program here.

In addition to this UK based colleagues also receive:

• Up to 25 days holiday.
• Annual health checks.
• Pension scheme.
• Discounts on various activities and financial/lifestyle products via our benefits hub.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Discounted gym membership.
• Employee assistance via retail trust.
• Private health & dental care.

Inclusion & Diversity

At COS we’re determined to create and maintain inclusive, diverse and equitable workplaces throughout our organisation. Our teams should consist of a variety of people that share and combine their knowledge, experience and ideas. Having a diverse workforce leads to a positive impact on how we address challenges, on what we perceive possible and on how we choose to relate to our colleagues and customers all over the world. Hence all diversity dimensions are taken into consideration in our recruitment process.

Company Description

COS offers a wardrobe of ready-to-wear and accessories rooted in exceptional quality and lasting design. The creative soul of the brand is fuelled by a deep connection to modern culture, dynamic global cities and compelling fashion movements. With an emphasis on expert craftsmanship, innovation and materiality, collections are created with a mindful approach, seamlessly blending contemporary and timeless. Learn more about COS here.

Ready to register interest? Click on the I’M INTERESTED link where you can upload your CV securely. Once we have received your application, we will keep you updated regularly about the status of your application so please look out for our email.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!