Apparel Materials Developer & Colorist

Unrivaled Teamwear LLC; Lenexa (KS); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Unrivaled Teamwear LLC, based in Lenexa, KS, seeks a Materials Developer & Colorist to research, source, and develop textiles, trims, and color needs aligned with brand aesthetics and cost targets.

You will maintain physical and digital libraries, communicate material approvals, and work under a manager to grow with the business while contributing to product lines across teams.

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.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience with Datacolor or spectrophotometer is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Investigate emerging textile technologies, sustainable fibers, and performance finishes.
• Collaborate with suppliers to develop custom fabrics and trims that meet design intent, cost parameters, and production feasibility.
• Partner with Creative, Technical Apparel Design, Graphics Design, Sourcing, QA, Production, Brand, and regional offices to align material choices with silhouette and marketing goals.
• Collaborate with QA on wearability, durability, safety testing, and ensure compliance with internal standards and external regulations.
• Create and maintain Materials Libraries and Color Approvals with accurate specifications; validate claims for production readiness.
• Adhere to development timelines and calendars to ensure materials are ready for fit approvals, photo shoots, and buy-ready dates.
• Maintain professionalism, clear communication, and a well-organized work area to support the team.

Skills

Textile development

Color discrimination (F-M 100 Hue)

Microsoft Office

Datacolor spectrophotometer

Project management

Strong communication

Education

Bachelors in Textile Development

Associate degree in textile development

Tools

PDL/PLM (tech packs)

Job description

Brief Description

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.

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.

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

Material Innovation & Research

• 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.