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J.McLaughlin · 1 month ago

Manager of Fabric

Brooklyn, NY, US

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level

$85K/yr - $90K/yr

5+ years exp

J.McLaughlin is a specialty American Sportswear and Accessories brand headquartered in New York. They are seeking a Fabric R & D Manager who will lead the research, development, testing, and innovation of fabrics to support product design, performance, sustainability, quality, and cost targets.

FashionRetail

Work & Life Balance

Responsibilities

Lead seasonal fabric research aligned with brand direction, performance needs, and market trends

Partner with design teams to translate creative vision into viable fabric solutions

Develop new fabrications including knits, wovens, performance, sustainable, and specialty textiles

Develop and maintain fabric calendars to track fabric development, sampling, and procurement timelines

Develop and manage strategic partnerships with global mills and fabric suppliers

Negotiate fabric pricing, MOQs, lead times, and exclusivity agreements

Identify new mills and emerging technologies to enhance competitive advantage

Oversee all fabric testing including physical, performance, wash, colorfastness, shrinkage, and wear tests

Ensure fabrics meet internal quality standards and external regulatory requirements

Partner with cross-functionals to address fabric-related issues during development and production

Assist bulk fabric approval process and resolve discrepancies between lab dips, handlooms, and production lots

Work closely with Design, Product Development, Technical Design, Sourcing, Production, and Merchandising

Support fit, wear testing, and final product performance reviews

Provide technical fabric expertise for vendors

Qualification

Fabric developmentTextile R&DMaterial innovationFabric testing standardsPLM systemsAdvanced ExcelGlobal mills experienceCross-functional communicationAnalytical skillsLeadershipProblem-solvingNegotiation abilities