Materials Designer - Berghaus

Pentland Brands Limited; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Product discounts

Gym and fitness discounts

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

Berghaus is seeking a Materials Designer to shape materials that power high-performance outdoor apparel. You will explore fabrics, constructions and finishes, building libraries and defining seasonal material directions aligned with brand strategy.

The role requires deep knowledge of technical fabrics, fibres and finishes, with collaboration across Design, Product and Sourcing to deliver production-ready solutions that balance performance, cost and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Experience in materials, textile design or fabric development.
• Strong knowledge of technical and performance fabrics.
• Understanding of fibres, yarns, woven and knitted fabrics, laminations, membranes, coatings and finishes.
• Experience researching and developing materials from initial concept through to production-ready solutions.
• Sustainability and responsible sourcing knowledge with balance to performance and quality.
• Experience working with mills, suppliers and cross-functional product teams.
• Strong creative judgement with commercial awareness to balance innovation, performance, cost and manufacturability.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign; PLM experience is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Researching and developing innovative fabrics, constructions, finishes and material technologies for Berghaus apparel.
• Helping define and evolve the seasonal material direction, reflecting brand strategy and market trends.
• Building and maintaining material libraries and toolboxes for designers and product teams.
• Evaluating materials across performance, durability, weight, hand-feel, functionality and end-use suitability.
• Exploring fibres, yarns, weaves, knits, laminations, membranes, coatings and finishes for the right solutions.
• Collaborating with mills, suppliers and innovation partners to uncover new materials and opportunities.
• Ensuring materials are commercially viable, manufacturable and delivered to specification.
• Championing lower-impact and responsible material solutions without compromising performance.

Skills

Materials design

Textile design

Fabric development

Material libraries

Sustainability

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Project management

Innovation

Commercial awareness

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

InDesign

PLM

Job description

We’re Pentland Brands: a global family business behind some of the world’s most iconic active and lifestyle brands. We bring integrity, energy and ambition to our work, setting high standards and striving to deliver great outcomes without ego.

Design technical outdoor apparel built for movement, weather and real-world performance.

At Berghaus, product has to do more than look good. It has to work when conditions change, terrain gets tougher and every detail starts to matter.

As Materials Designer for Berghaus, you’ll play a key role in shaping the materials that bring our apparel to life.

Working at the intersection of creativity, innovation and technical performance, you’ll research, develop and deliver materials that meet the demands of the outdoors while creating a compelling experience for the consumer. From waterproofing and breathability to durability, weight, comfort and hand-feel, you’ll help ensure every material choice has a clear purpose.

Partnering closely with Design, Product Management, Development, Sourcing and Sustainability, you’ll help build the material direction, knowledge and tools that support both seasonal product creation and the longer‑term evolution of Berghaus.

What you’ll be doing:

• Researching and developing innovative fabrics, constructions, finishes and material technologies for Berghaus apparel.

• Helping define and evolve the seasonal material direction, ensuring it reflects brand strategy, consumer needs and market trends.

• Building and maintaining material libraries and toolboxes that support designers and product teams across the creation process.

• Evaluating materials across performance, durability, weight, hand-feel, functionality and end‑use suitability.

• Exploring fibres, yarns, weaves, knits, laminations, membranes, coatings and finishes to identify the right solutions for each product.

• Working closely with fabric mills, suppliers and innovation partners to uncover new materials, technologies and opportunities.

• Collaborating with Design, Development, Sourcing and Product teams to ensure materials are commercially viable, manufacturable, tested and delivered to specification.

• Championing lower‑impact and responsible material solutions without compromising performance, durability, quality or aesthetic.

• Translating emerging outdoor, consumer and textile trends into material opportunities that are relevant to the Berghaus consumer.

• Creating clear material presentations and stories that bring new concepts and seasonal direction to life.

What you’ll bring:

• Experience in materials, textile design or fabric development, ideally within outdoor, sportswear, performance apparel or another technically relevant category.

• Strong knowledge of technical and performance fabrics, including fabric construction, trims and finishing techniques.

• A good understanding of fibres, yarns, woven and knitted fabrics, laminations, membranes, coatings and finishes.

• Experience researching and developing materials from initial concept through to commercially viable, production‑ready solutions.

• A strong understanding of material innovation, sustainability and responsible sourcing, with the ability to balance environmental impact with performance and quality.

• Experience working with mills, suppliers and cross‑functional product teams.

• Strong creative judgement combined with the commercial awareness to balance innovation, performance, cost and manufacturability.

• Confident communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast‑paced environment.

• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign; experience with PLM, material libraries or digital product creation tools would be an advantage.

Why Berghaus?

Berghaus is a brand built for the outdoors, shaped by decades of innovation, exploration and a belief that great kit helps people go further.

From the mountains to the trail, Berghaus creates product for people who want to move confidently in the outdoors, whatever the conditions. It is a brand with real heritage, but also a clear focus on what comes next: better performance, better materials, better fit and more responsible product choices.

Joining Berghaus means becoming part of a team that cares deeply about the details, how product feels, how it performs, how it lasts, and how it supports people in the moments that matter.

Perks & Benefits

We offer a competitive salary, discretionary bonus, hybrid working, flexible start and finish times, generous holiday allowance, product discounts, sample sales, enhanced family‑friendly policies, healthcare support, gym and fitness discounts, cycle to work scheme and electric car scheme.
You can find full details of our benefits and perks on our UK Benefits page.

The Interview Process

We want our interview process to feel clear, straightforward, and supportive. If your experience and expectations look like a strong match for the role, here’s what you can expect next:

1. Talent Team Intro Call - A 30‑minute video call with our Talent Team to get to know each other, talk through the role and your experience, and answer any questions you have.

2. Experience Interview - A more in‑depth interview (usually online) with the hiring manager to explore your skills, experience and approach, and how these align with the role, our principles, and our ways of working.

3. Final Interview - A final in‑person interview at our office, focused on deeper discussion and practical application, giving you the chance to meet more of the team and see Pentland Brands in action.