Apparel Materials Developer & Colorist

T E C Industrial Inc; Lenexa (KS); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Unrivaled Teamwear in Lenexa, KS seeks a Materials Developer & Colorist to research, source, and develop textiles, trims, and color needs that align with brand aesthetics and cost targets. You will maintain fabric, trim, and color libraries and communicate material approvals with cross‑functional teams to ensure production readiness.

You will mentor under a manager and collaborate with global teams to ensure color accuracy, trend alignment, and compliant documentation throughout the development

Qualifications

• 4-year or 2-year textile development degree required or related field.
• Color discrimination skill with Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; strong written/verbal communication.
• Experience with Datacolor or spectrophotometer preferred.

Responsibilities

• Investigate textile technologies, sustainable fibers, and performance finishes.
• Maintain fabric, trim, and color libraries with accurate specs.
• Collaborate with suppliers to develop custom fabrics and trims.
• Ensure materials meet design intent, cost targets and production feasibility.
• Create lab dip and bulk headend comments clearly and timely.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to align material choices with goals.

Skills

Color discrimination

Textile development

Microsoft Office

Project management

Vendor collaboration

Education

4-year degree in Textile Development

2-year degree in Textile Development

Tools

Datacolor

Spectrophotometer

PDL/PLM

Job description

• Location 9700 Commerce Parkway,Lenexa, KS, 66219,United States
• Employee Type Full Time Exempt
• Required Degree 2 Year Degree
• Manage Others No

Overview

A Materials Developer & Colorist is responsible for researching, sourcing, and developing textiles, trims, and color needs that align with brand aesthetics and cost targets. Maintaining physical and digital versions of the fabric, trim and color library, as well as communicating all raw material approvals, rejections and details. The role is mentored by a manager.

About Unrivaled Teamwear

Unrivaled Teamwear is the fast-growing parent company behind Gear for Sports and Knights Apparel. Headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, we design, decorate, and deliver team gear — tees, fleece, performance wear, outerwear, headwear, and accessories — for customers ranging from big box retailers, college bookstores, golf courses and resorts, and national retailers.

We've grown quickly over the past year and expect that growth to continue. We are looking for motivated candidates looking to grow their career alongside the business.

Job Responsibilities

• Investigate emerging textile technologies, sustainable fibers, and performance finishes
• Maintain deep understanding of market trends through creative design interaction, research, vendor interaction, and consumer feedback

Sourcing & Development

• Collaborate with suppliers to develop custom fabrics and trims.
• Ensure materials meet design intent, cost parameters, and production feasibility
• Execute lab dip and bulk headend comments in a timely and clear manner

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Creative & Technical Apparel Design, Graphics Design, Sourcing, QA, Production, Brand, and Asia / Central America Office Teams to align material choices with silhouette, fit, construction, and marketing goals and to achieve excellent color execution
• Attends weekly Brand based meetings as needed

Testing & Compliance

• Collaborate with QA with testing for wearability, durability, and safety.
• Ensure compliance with internal standards and external regulations (e.g., A01 standards)
• Works with Office Teams on care labels
• Ensures claims are appropriately executed
• Executes and tracks decoration testing
• Works with QA on Design Hazard Analysis

Documentation & BOM Creation

• Create and maintain Materials Libraries and Color Approvals with accurate specifications.
• Validate claims and approvals for production readiness

Calendar Management

• Adhere to development timelines and action calendars.
• Ensure materials are ready for key milestones such as fit approvals, photo shoots, and buy-ready dates

Business Acumen

• Solid communicator, tracker, and problem solver
• Assists with special projects as needed

Professionalism

• Ability to conduct oneself in accordance to our Corporate Values
• Ability to be present work in a clear, concise manner
• Ability to maintain working area, samples, and tools in a way that is easily accessed by other team members and self

Minimum Qualifications

• 4-year degree in Textile Development or 2-year degree in textile development or related area
• Must have a color discrimination skill represented by a score in the superior range using the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office
• Tech Packs (PDL/PLM) knowledge/working experience preferred
• Project Management and tracking software experience preferred
• Solid written and verbal communication to all partner teams; including meeting presentations. Able to upload relevant info to supervisor(s)
• Experience with Datacolor or other spectrophotometer, and lightbox preferred.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the associate. Other duties will be assigned as needed.

EOE/AA: Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing as well as participate in E-Verify.