Fabric R&D Manager - Knits & Sweaters Innovation

Centric Brands; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) matching

Summer Fridays

Generous PTO

Merchandise discounts

Job summary

Centric Brands is seeking a Fabric Manager to lead seasonal fabric research, development, and sourcing for knits and sweaters. You will collaborate with Design, Merchandising, Product Development, and Production to ensure timely, cost-effective fabrics that reflect the brand vision.

The ideal candidate has 5–7 years in fabric sourcing, deep knowledge of fabric construction, and proficiency with PLM software, Excel, and Illustrator.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Textile Design, Fashion, or a related field.
• Minimum 5-7 years in fabric research, development, or sourcing within fashion/retail apparel, emphasis on Knit/Sweater fabrics.
• Extensive knowledge of fabric construction, fibers, yarns, dyeing, finishing, and garment construction.
• Experience with PLM software; proficiency in Excel, Illustrator, and related systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead seasonal fabric research, development, and sourcing for knits and sweaters.
• Collaborate with Design, Merchandising, Product Development, and Production to ensure timely, cost-effective fabrics.
• Research new fabric trends, identify technologies, and translate creative direction into fabric strategy.
• Source new fabrics and counter-source with mills and overseas office.
• Manage development process from concept to final sample approval.
• Maintain season fabric library, vendor matrix, and PLM records.
• Negotiate prices, minimums, and lead times to meet budgets and margins.
• Create fabric development calendar and ensure key deadlines are met.
• Attend cross-functional meetings to provide updates and resolve issues.

Skills

Fabric research

Sourcing negotiations

Cross-functional collaboration

Detail-oriented

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Project management

Microsoft Excel

Illustrator

Education

Bachelor's degree in Textile Design or Fashion

Tools

PLM software

Microsoft Excel

Illustrator

Job description

Centric Brands is seeking a Fabric Manager to lead seasonal fabric research, development, and sourcing for knits and sweaters. You will collaborate with Design, Merchandising, Product Development, and Production to ensure timely, cost-effective fabrics that reflect the brand vision.

The ideal candidate has 5–7 years in fabric sourcing, deep knowledge of fabric construction, and proficiency with PLM software, Excel, and Illustrator.