Job Description
An exciting opportunity has arisen for my client a leading supplier of ladies, men's, and childrenswear to some of the leading Uk retailers. This role is to be based in their offices in Shanghai and they're looking for an experienced fabric manager with experience working with the UK High street. This role offers the opportunity to have autonomy for your area, yet having the opportunity to be part of a successful thriving team.
Main responsibilities and duties
- To oversee, guide, and support the operations for all sourcing teams including Hong Kong and China
- Identify and establish key fabric trends for the upcoming season covering woven and jersey fabric for the products of ladies, men's, and kidswear
- Strategically source business and seasonally relevant fabrics for the regions
- Promote opportunities to relevant working partners including, Designers Sales Managers and Buyers
- Actively source and manage the fabric supply base and expand the respective network in China and overseas countries
- Manage and prepare key trend presentations to UK buying and design teams
- Work with designers and merchandise teams to review & manage fabric cost targets
- Drive strategic seasonal cross costing projects on core programs globally
- Actively manage sourcing critical path
- Plan and execute the establishment of new global sourcing routes
- Monitor the execution of the day to day fabric sourcing requests for all territories from merchandising, design, Fabric Sourcing, and buying teams to ensure that those are completed on time
Person Specification
- Degree holder in Textile Design/ Textile Technology preferred, creative flair essential
- At least 8 years' in fabric sourcing, design, and development experience with at least 4 years at managerial level.
- Ideally based in Hong Kong currently if not happy to relocate
- Work experience from a UK retailer /supplier or sourcing office
- Technical expertise in woven & jersey fabrics
- Have strong trend focus and a keen sense of fashion and the ability to interpret fabric trends
- Apparel design and development process knowledge
- Understanding of Textile Processes - spinning, weaving, dyeing, and finishing
- Good fabric sourcing network both in China and overseas countries
- Good communication and presentation skills
- Have the confidence and ability to do fabric presentations to buyers and designers
- Good Management skills, Confident, self-motivated and team player
- Good computer knowledge
- Ability to undertake extensive travel when permitted
