Textile Specialist / Fabric & Trim Developer

Job Description

About Us:

Champro® is a privately-owned sporting goods and apparel manufacturer that has been in business for 30+ years. We deliver high-value, traditional & innovative athletic equipment and apparel via outstanding, integrity-driven customer service. Our business philosophy is focused on our customers and we take pride in providing them with the best overall values in team sports products.
Position:

The Textiles Specialist - Fabric & Trim Developer is responsible for the research, development, and management of materials and trims for our sports uniforms and sportswear apparel products. This role requires deep expertise in textile properties, fabric testing processes and supplier capabilities along with a strong knowledge of the latest trends in textiles. The developer will work closely with design, production, and quality teams to ensure that all materials and trims meet the company's standards for quality, cost, and sustainability.
Responsibilities:

• Identify and source new materials and trims that align with the company's design and quality standards
• Responsible for building and maintaining effective working relationships with vendors, developing a strong working knowledge of vendor capability and availability to meet demands
• Evaluate suppliers based on their ability to meet quality, cost, and delivery expectations
• Seasonal research, development and presentation to designers of new concepts in all trim materials
• Maintain detailed records of all materials and trims, including specifications, test results, and supplier details and ensure that all materials and trims are properly documented in the company's systems for easy access by other departments.
• In conjunction with the Product Development and Design teams, agree and implement the trim development critical path. Ensuring deadlines are adhered to and follow up on all development issues to resolve and drive to completion. Identifying, calling out and making recommendations to mitigate any risks/challenges identified at all stages
• Responsible for ordering and delivering trims on time, to the quality standard, and within cost price range, to achieve target margin
• Ensuring the functionality (including consistency and standardization) of products that are developed are fit for purpose for the customer, brand and business. This includes ongoing risk assessment during the development process and proactivity in taking actions as a result
• Responsible for collaborating with the Product teams while developing the collections for product testing to relevant standards, leveraging their technical knowledge and negotiating any aesthetic changes to protect the design vision
• Support production meetings follow ups at vendors, technical requirements of all proto and samples in preparation for production
• Ensure fabrics and trims are sourced to meet quality standards and work with the Quality Control team for testing and approvals
• Accountable for ensuring PLM is kept updated with 100% accuracy at all times.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Ability to work in partnership with Product Manager and Designers, understanding and interpreting their creative aesthetic and design vision and translating this to teams and vendors
• Technical capability and product knowledge with ability to confidently influence the Design team and provide on the spot solutions in raw material trim development
• Experience managing vendor relationships, delivering clear briefs and leveraging relationships to meet demands
• Critical path management ensuring collections are delivered on time, identifying, calling out and making recommendations to mitigate any risks/challenges identified
• Able to manage within a budget with commercial awareness and understanding of product cost, achieving a balance between creativity and commercial implications throughout the product development process
• Demonstrated expert technical product knowledge, including specifics on areas such as knit, construction, pattern cutting, fabric construction, raw material (woven and yarns)
• Demonstrated experience working on site with vendors and operational knowledge of factories, delivering clear briefs and leveraging relationships and availability to meet demands
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to negotiate with credibility, share information effectively, and work confidently with cross functional teams
• In depth knowledge of fashion and products in relevant category -'fashion sensibility' - knowledge of trends, the market, the luxury consumer, and peer awareness
• Computer skills: PLM, excel, InDesign

• Bachelor's degree in Apparel, Merchandising, Textile Science or related field
• 3-5 years related experience