Garment Technologist

Debenhams Retail; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus scheme

Company pension

Share schemes

Private medical cover

Life assurance

Brand discount

Wellbeing package

Learning & progression

Season ticket loan

Job summary

Debenhams Group is seeking a Senior Garment Technologist to join the Coast brand team in London. You will lead fit sessions, work with suppliers and QA managers to drive quality improvements and cost efficiencies.

The role demands a strong technical background, experience in pattern cutting and factory liaison, and the ability to steer multiple product areas with confidence. You will partner with design, buying and supplier teams to resolve fit and quality issues, ensure compliance, and support

Qualifications

• Strong garment technology background with fitting experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead in-house and source-fit sessions for Coast product areas.
• Provide technical guidance to design, buying and suppliers.
• Communicate comments clearly to suppliers and process samples promptly.
• Improve quality and reduce costs via collaboration with QA and technical teams.
• Ensure compliance with safety and reach legislation; manage testing and non-compliance.
• Contribute to initiatives to reduce customer returns and promote quality with a commercial mindset.

Skills

Garment technology

Pattern cutting

Factory liaison

Team leadership

Fitting sessions

Quality assurance

Google applications

Time management

KPI management

Education

Degree-level qualification in textiles/apparel

Tools

Gerber pattern system

Pattern grading software

Job description

Our technical team are looking for a strong and confident individual to join the team as a Senior Garment Technologist to work alongside our buying team and QA managers to improve fit and work with suppliers and the technical team to improve quality. This role will be London based, supporting our Debenhams brands teams. Debenhams is proud to be Britain's Online Department Store. The ultimate beauty, fashion & homeware destination that makes it easy to find everything you need, all from the comfort of home. Founded in 1778 by William Clark, and rebranded by William Debenham in 1813, Debenhams is the exclusively online one-stop shop that makes it easy to find new favourite beauty, fashion & homeware pieces. The brand is home to broad selection of premium brands, including a new pre-loved designer collection to give luxury accessories a second chance at style. We have been a trusted household name since 1778, continuing to evolve our market positioning, stocking all your favourites - from YSL and Prada to iconic occasionwear brand Coast, cool-girl outfitting at Warehouse, sleek tailoring at Burton, plus coveted home picks including Smeg, Dyson, SharkNinja and more - consider Debenhams your one-stop shop for all the best pieces, arriving straight to your door. Your Team In this role as a Senior Garment Technologist, you will be an integral part of the Coast brand team. What you will be doing:

• Conducting fit sessions for own product area(s) in-house and at source, balancing speed and quality; making commercial decisions with confidence; owning the fitting process and inspiring trust and confidence from QA manager, to colleagues and suppliers
• Supporting the Technical team and QA manager in managing fit sessions and product areas
• Sending clear, concise and accurate comments to suppliers; processing samples in a timely and agile manner, in line with KPI's
• Liaising with design, buying and suppliers to offer technical guidance on new product development with the aim of reducing costs and improving quality
• Working directly with the suppliers and Technical team to improve on areas of weakness, including in house training and development of the Technical team
• Ensuring compliance with product safety and reach legislation; assessing risk, advising on relevant testing; recording and resolving non-compliance effectively and efficiently
• Contributing to initiatives to reduce customer returns
• Promoting quality at all times, whilst maintaining a strong commercial attitude
• Identifying and managing new projects, feeding back to QA managerFeeding back to QA Manager, peers and Technologists with recommendations for improvements to procedures and practices.
• Proven track record in a similar senior role within a fast-paced environment
• A technically-oriented qualification, preferably at degree level
• Able to work both individually and part of a team, with ability to inspire and motivate team members
• Multi-product experience including fringe areas; ability to move between product areas
• Confident and strong individual, with ability to manage the team, expectations as well as their own fit sessions
• Comprehensive understanding of fitting and fit issues
• Pattern cutting knowledge, alongside knowledge of grading and grade rules
• Knowledge of Gerber and/or similar Pattern system
• Experience of working directly with factories, and thorough understanding of factory production, including work-flow and production control
• First class communication skills to both the QA manager and wider team
• Keen interest in overseas travel
• Able to meet new challenges with a positive attitude
• Strong time-management skills; able to prioritise tasks and change direction with agility
• Confident using Google Applications (Gmail, sheets, docs, Gemini (AI) & Keen to expand skill set) as the role demands.
• At Debenhams Group, we are a diverse portfolio of five core brands (boohoo, boohooMAN, PrettyLittleThing, Karen Millen, and Debenhams) alongside a dynamic marketplace model and a growing financial services division, it keeps us pretty busy! We don't stand still, we lead, evolve, and redefine online fashion. With bold ambitions and big energy, we're on a mission to be the best, delivering the strongest propositions to our customers in the most engaging, innovative, and efficient ways possible. We thrive on change, innovation, and pace. Every challenge is an opportunity, and every day is a chance to push boundaries. If you're someone who embraces the unknown, thrives in a fast-moving, high-growth environment, and is ready to shape the future of retail, you'll love it here. We want visionaries, disruptors, and doers, people who bring fresh thinking, relentless energy, and the drive to make an impact., 2025 was a year of significant change for the Group. 2026 is about bold moves, real results and unstoppable momentum. If that excites you, you belong at Debenhams Group.
• Highly competitive bonus scheme, company pension, share schemes, private medical cover and life assurance
• Discount across all brands
• Comprehensive wellbeing package
• Ongoing learning and development with strong internal progression
• Free season ticket loan