Fabric Development Manager

Dweet; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Dweet is seeking a Fabric Development Manager based in Central London, with primary responsibility for managing extensive luxury fabric collections such as cashmere and wool. You’ll report directly to the Chief Product Operations Officer and oversee the end-to-end fabric development process from concept through delivery.

The role requires strong leadership, deep textile knowledge, and the ability to coordinate across design, production and suppliers to uphold the brand’s premium standards.

Qualifications

• Experience in luxury fabric development and high-end materials.
• Strong managerial capabilities and experience with industrial/operations teams.
• Ability to communicate with mills and manage high-quality production timelines.
• Italian language skills are advantageous due to collaborations with Italian mills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the fabric development process from concept to delivery.
• Direct team management of the fabric developer and align with creative vision.
• Coordinate with mills/vendors to meet timing and quality standards.
• Assess and select luxury fabrics ensuring premium collection standards.
• Strengthen supply chain control for fabric management in collaboration with design and production.

Skills

Luxury fabric expertise

Technical and managerial skills

Communication and negotiation

Italian language (advantageous)

Job description

Our client is renowned for its commitment to the highest quality, especially through its fabric selection. The focus on luxury fabrics is central to their menswear collections, with each piece crafted to reflect creativity and sophistication.

Position Summary

A newly created role, the Fabric Development Manager is a pivotal role within the brand, responsible for managing their extensive and complex fabric collections, with an emphasis on luxury formal fabrics such as cashmere and wool. Reporting directly to the Chief Product Operations Officer, this multifaceted role requires the ability to navigate and control the entire fabric development process from concept through to delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee Fabric Development: Manage the critical path of fabric development, ensuring the seamless integration of design and production elements.
• Direct Team Management: Supervise and collaborate with the fabric developer, ensuring the alignment with the creative vision.
• Vendor Coordination: Handle complex negotiations with vendors and mills, ensuring time deliveries are honored and quality standards are met.
• Fabric Selection and Assessment: Evaluate and manage the quality of expensive, exclusive fabrics, ensuring they meet the high standards of our collections.
• Supply Chain Management: Strengthen supply chain control on the fabrics management side, supporting the design team while building stronger links with production.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Luxury Fabric Expertise: Experience in luxury fabric development is highly beneficial, with a strong understanding of high-end materials and their application in fashion.
• Technical and Managerial Skills: Proven technical know-how in fabrics, complemented by strong managerial capabilities and experience in industrial and operations teams.
• Communication and Negotiation: Ability to effectively communicate with and manage mills, ensuring high-quality production and timely deliveries.
• Language Skills: Proficiency in Italian is advantageous due to frequent collaborations with Italian mills.

Location and Travel

The position is based in Central London, with 4 days per week required on-site.