Knitwear Developer

TN United Kingdom; London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Knitwear Developer to drive innovation in fabric sourcing and development. This role is pivotal in ensuring brand aesthetics and sustainability, requiring a keen eye for material trends and strong negotiation skills. Collaborating with design and production teams, you will manage the entire development process, from sourcing to quality assurance. Join a forward-thinking company that values creativity and sustainability in fashion, offering a permanent full-time position with attractive benefits and opportunities for professional growth.

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 Programs

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in knitwear development for premium markets.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple projects effectively.

Responsibilities

• Develop components to meet seasonal timelines and quality standards.
• Manage new fabric trials and ensure compliance with safety regulations.

Skills

Knitwear Development

Fabric Sourcing

Supplier Relationship Management

Negotiation Skills

Project Management

Sustainability Knowledge

Job description

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Job Title: Knitwear Developer at COS

As a Knitwear Developer at COS, you will ensure brand aesthetics, innovation, and trend relevance in our seasonal materials. You will execute the material strategy aligned with our visual and commercial goals.

Collaborating closely with design, buying, and production teams, you will handle material sourcing, development, and booking utilization. Extensive fabric expertise, sourcing experience, excellent taste, and a strong business mindset are essential to achieve value for money through fabric selection.

What you will do:

1. Develop components on time to meet seasonal critical paths and shop week plans, evaluating options for optimal price, quality, lead time, and sustainability.
2. Innovate in fabrication to secure news value and push boundaries.
3. Advance sustainable knit and jersey materials, developing and scaling solutions in line with sustainability targets and circularity principles.
4. Follow seasonal material strategies, managing material bookings and potential liabilities.
5. Manage the launch of new fabric trials with suppliers, including prototypes, quality validation, strike-offs, design and colour trials, lab dips, and finishings.
6. Maintain accurate records of timelines, materials, specifications, samples, and utilization, ensuring data quality in physical and digital libraries.
7. Guide and support the Fabric Developer Assistant to optimize team performance.
8. Communicate development requests clearly and timely to mills, overseeing the full development process from start to finish.
9. Collaborate with the quality assurance team to ensure product safety and compliance through risk assessments, technical guidance, and testing according to market regulations.

Qualifications:

Alignment with our company values—being open-minded, curious, daring to be different, committed to constant improvement, and empowering ownership—is crucial. We value:

• Extensive experience as a Knitwear Developer in premium markets and global supply chains, across womens and menswear.
• Deep knowledge of material trends, innovations, and industry developments.
• A customer-centric passion for fashion and the COS brand.
• Strong negotiation skills and supplier relationship management.
• Experience in optimizing materials through lab dipping, print prep, and planning.
• Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple projects and timelines.
• Willingness to travel frequently to suppliers and fairs globally.

Additional Information:

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

Benefits:

We offer attractive benefits, development opportunities, a 25% staff discount, and participation in our H&M Incentive Program. UK colleagues also receive:

• Up to 25 days holiday
• Annual health checks
• Pension scheme
• Discounts on activities and products
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted gym membership
• Employee assistance programs
• Private health & dental care

Inclusion & Diversity:

We are committed to creating inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplaces, considering all diversity dimensions in our recruitment process.

Company Description:

COS offers high-quality, timeless ready-to-wear and accessories, inspired by modern culture, global cities, and fashion movements. We focus on craftsmanship, innovation, and materiality with a mindful approach to design.

Interested? Click on the I’M INTERESTED link to upload your CV. We will keep you updated on your application status. We look forward to hearing from you!