Purpose of the roleWorking in partnership with the multiple RTW departments to manage the fabric deliveries and development according to the seasonal brief.ResponsibilitiesBuild a close working partnership with Design, Product Development and Production attending fabric meetings, providing feedback on technical feasibility, brainstorming ideas and troubleshooting when issues arise to ensure the design vision is translated into productResponsible for sample orders, leftover management, and price negotiationsResponsible for all fabric data maintenance across different platforms.Responsible for seasonal budget and tracker.Build and maintain effective working relationships with suppliers and develop a strong workingKnowledge of supplier capability and availability to meet demandsNurture and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, to secure the best pricing, lead times, and exclusivity when applicable.Attend appointments with suppliers, fabric fairs and visit agents for research when neededResponsible for purchasing and delivering fabric on time, to the quality standard, and within budget. Including checking invoices for payments and sending to the accounts departmentUpkeep of fabric cards, fabric boards, fabric rails - to be communicated across teams“A plus” - Verify certifications for suppliers and ensure all relevant documents to declare themsustainable are availableSource new fabrics with attention to minimums, lead times, prices and sustainable criteriaResearch and development of new fabric concepts and techniques according to brief, pricing all selections:o Sampleso Colourwayso Collaboration with mills and follow up on new designs/fabrics to ensure correct executionCreate and maintain a fabric resource library to include core fabrics, and adopted seasonal fabricsContinue to build sustainability knowledge in fabrics to support the brand’s efforts to be environment friendlyMeasures of SuccessFabric delivery deadlines metFabric development approval rateFabric development in line with budgetData integrity on Zedonk / AirtableRequirementsRelevant industry experience in fabricsAbility to work in partnership with design, understanding and interpreting creative aesthetic and design vision and translate this into fabricsTechnical capability and product knowledge with ability to confidently influence the Design team and provide on the spot solutions in:o fibers & filamentso fabric & yarn constructiono fabric finishingKnowledge of industry standard testing protocolsAble to manage within a budget with commercial awareness and understanding of cost of fabric, achieving a balance between creativity and commercial implications throughout the development processExperience working on site with suppliers and operational knowledge of factories, delivering clear briefsAbility to react swiftly and troubleshoot when issues arise, acting with a sense of urgency and diligence to resolveStrong drive for results and proven ability to proactively move projects through to completionIn depth knowledge of fashion and apparel, knowledge of trends, the market, luxury brands and consumerCollaborative team player with strong initiativeFlexible and adaptableComputer skills: Zedonk, PLM, Illustrator, Photoshop, Excel