Senior Fabric Innovator - Luxury Textiles & Innovation

BoF Careers; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Burberry in London seeks a Senior Fabric Developer to lead fabric development across multiple product categories, driving innovation and championing technical excellence. You will mentor the team, foster high performance, and build strong supplier partnerships to deliver fabrics that meet quality, cost and aesthetic goals.

You will partner with Design and provide leadership on fabric strategies, ensuring coordination across product teams and timelines.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in fabric R&D, including testing, performance standards, finishes and treatments at fabric and garment level.
• Experience managing vendor relationships and working with suppliers to deliver creative, technical and commercial requirements.
• Commercial awareness, including experience managing budgets, product costs and target margins.
• Able to balance creative ambition with quality, functionality, timing and commercial considerations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the research and development of new fabrics, treatments, finishes and technologies in response to creative direction and product requirements.
• Partner with Design on development and prototype launches, translating creative ideas into fabrics that meet quality, performance and aesthetic expectations.
• Own the fabric development critical path, anticipating risks, proposing solutions and driving issues through to completion.
• Build effective relationships with vendors, providing clear briefs and developing an understanding of their capabilities, capacity and availability.
• Deliver fabrics within agreed quality, cost and margin parameters while ensuring they are consistent, functional and fit for purpose.
• Lead and nurture a team of Fabric Developers and Assistants, balancing priorities and resources to deliver craftsmanship and operational excellence.

Skills

Fabric R&D

Vendor management

Budget & margins

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Job description

Burberry in London seeks a Senior Fabric Developer to lead fabric development across multiple product categories, driving innovation and championing technical excellence. You will mentor the team, foster high performance, and build strong supplier partnerships to deliver fabrics that meet quality, cost and aesthetic goals.

You will partner with Design and provide leadership on fabric strategies, ensuring coordination across product teams and timelines.