Fabric Development & Innovation Manager - 12 Month FTC

The White Company; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discount

Holiday

Pension Scheme

Bonus

Private Healthcare

Life Assurance

Salary Sacrifice - EV

Leadership Development Programme

Sample Sales discounts

Great Location

Job summary

The White Company is seeking a senior Fabric Development & Sourcing Lead in Greater London. You will independently lead teams on fabric development and sourcing for all product categories, reporting to Head of Design.

The ideal candidate has strong knowledge of luxury fabrics, with experience in fabric development, supplier management, and testing standards. Excellent negotiation, attention to detail, and travel willingness are required. Hybrid work options apply.

Qualifications

• Graduate level, design, and fashion degree preferable.
• Cross functional worker, understanding of relationships between Buying, Sourcing, Design, Merchandising & Quality Assurance
• CAD skills
• Excellent creative and analytical ability; an eye for product and brand.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Extensive experience in Fabric Development, preferably attained from within a luxury brand

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct the teams on fabric development and sourcing for all product categories.
• Meet regularly with current and new fabric suppliers/mills to maintain relationships
• Ensure fabrics can be counter sourced or developed to maximise margin
• Research and develop new trends, fabrics and yarn types
• Source and develop new fabrics each season with design team and introduce innovative concepts
• Keep aware of competitive fabric developments
• Work with design and buying teams to ensure fabric selections based on price, quality and critical path
• Establish fabric library and lab dip/colour standard process
• Provide technical advice to product teams and suppliers
• Negotiate best prices on fabrics

Skills

Fabric sourcing

Fabric development

Negotiation

CAD skills

Quality assurance

Fashion knowledge

Supplier management

Education

Design or fashion degree

Tools

CAD software

Job description

Our Role

Working independently, reporting to the Head of Design you will lead and direct the teams on fabric development and sourcing for all product categories

The ideal candidate will be passionate about the highest standards of quality fabric, commercially sound, with excellent knowledge of sourcing fabrics, from both European and offshore existing and new markets. The ideal candidate will:

• Proven technical experience of fabrics and fabric sourcing at the luxury end of the market. Solid technical skills on fabric development


• Push the elevation of the quality of fabric and yarn to evolve the aesthetic and inherent value of brand and product.


• Be able to identify opportunities for both innovation as well as margin gain, work directly with mills, suppliers and factories


• Knowledgeable of womenswear fabric and yarn. A strong design aesthetic and fashion knowledge.


• Be able to instigate thorough fabric and yarn testing standards across departments


• Good people skills to interact with Buying and Design teams


• Strong communication skills to conduct product development, negotiation and auditing.


• High level of attention to detail and organisational skills


• Able to travel overseas

What you’ll be doing

• Meet regularly with current and new fabric suppliers/mills. Maintain a working relationship with all mills and suppliers


• Ensure fabrics can be counter sourced or developed when necessary to maximise margin


• Research and development of new trends, fabrics and yarn types


• Source and develop new fabrics each season with design team and introducing innovative concepts that are first to market. Develop fabrics from vintage or sample swatches


• Keep aware of competitive fabric developments


• Work closely with the design and buying teams to ensure fabric selections are based on price, quality and critical path


• Establish fabric library, identifying key cloth and yarn qualities that will be consistently used and that pass all quality standards. Establish Lab dip and colour standard process.


• Responsible for setting and maintaining technical standards and deal with fabric production issues and claims


• Provide technical advice to product teams and suppliers


• Negotiate best prices on fabrics where possible

What skills & experience you’ll need

• Graduate level, design, and fashion degree preferable.


• Cross functional worker, understanding of relationships between Buying, Sourcing, Design, Merchandising & Quality Assurance


• CAD skills


• Excellent creative and analytical ability; an eye for product and brand.


• Excellent negotiation skills.


• Extensive experience in Fabric Development, preferably attained from within a luxury brand

What we’ll offer you

At The White Company, we value our employees for always going the extra mile for every one of our customers; we reward this with great benefits and competitive salaries.

• Discount -Up to 50% discount and access to regular Sample Sales


• Holiday - 25 days rising to 28 with length of service


• Holiday Buy – opportunity to buy up to 5 days holiday


• Pension Scheme - enrolled in our Group Personal Pension schemes upon joining the business.


• Bonus - In addition to our competitive salaries, all our employees are entitled to join a discretionary bonus scheme (based on policy eligibility)


• Wagestream Money Management app - access to Wagestream gives you power over your pay and supports financial wellbeing


• Continued Development – We offer structured support from our own in-house Learning and Development Hub


• Salary Sacrifice scheme for Electric vehicles (dependent on grade and meeting policy eligibility)


• Continued Development - Inclusion on our Leadership Development Programme (eligibility for contracts of 6 months plus Grade D & E roles only)


• Continued Development – We offer structured support from our own in-house Learning and Development Hub


• Private Healthcare with additional Babylon Digital Healthcare (based on contract duration)


• Life Assurance


• White City House (Soho House Group)Tenants Membership at a discounted rate, offering access to facilities in the House

Additional Benefits

• Fruit basket daily


• Tea and coffee provided


• Working from Home - option to work from home on Mondays and Fridays


• Social - Christmas party/social events throughout the year


• Seasonal Sample Sales


• Volunteer Day - with a charity of your choice


• Great Location - Close to transport links - over ground Shepherds Bush station /underground White City & Wood Lane stations. Westfield shopping centre with shops restaurants/bars/cinema and gyms

Our Equality Diversity and Inclusion statement of commitment

At The White Company we are committed to creating an inclusive culture that welcomes and celebrates a diversity of backgrounds and identities.

We are working together to ensure our environment is one where people can bring their authentic selves to work, where their contribution is valued, ability enhanced, and perspective appreciated. Where difference is respected, encouraged, and celebrated. Where you can feel you belong.

We are committed to an active Equality Diversity and Inclusion Policy, which starts with our recruitment and selection process.

Our Sustainability statement of commitment

We are committed to building a sustainable legacy that will enable a brighter future for people and our planet.’ We believe this should be reflected in everything we do.