Manager, Fabric R&D

Centric Brands•Los Angeles, CA

1d•$90,000 - $100,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Fabric R&D Manager owns the material story behind the Favorite Daughter collection spanning hard and soft wovens, sweater yarns, cut and sew knits, and denim. Reporting to the SVP of Product Development and Technical Design as an individual contributor, this role sits at the intersection of Design, Product Development, and Production, translating seasonal concept direction into a fabric offering that is commercially viable, technically sound, and priced to margin.

Requirements

Degree in Textile Science, Fashion Design, or a creative related field, or equivalent professional experience
5–7 years of materials development, or raw materials sourcing experience in apparel, with meaningful exposure to women's contemporary product
Demonstrated hands-on expertise across wovens, knits, and denim, including constructions, yarn systems, finishing, and wash
Deep technical knowledge of fiber content, fabric construction, dyeing and finishing processes, and textile testing standards
Proven costing and negotiation experience with domestic and overseas mills
Strong color acumen and the ability to evaluate lab dips and approve to standard
Strong calendar management skills with the ability to juggle multiple categories and deadlines simultaneously
Experience in a fast-paced, high-SKU-turn contemporary or premium denim environment
Experience developing traceable material programs
Familiarity with denim wash development and laundry partnerships
Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed
Sense of urgency and ownership
Clear, direct and organized written and verbal communication style
Collaborative and solutions-oriented thinking
Comfort with ambiguity and a fast pace

Responsibilities

Lead seasonal fabric research and development across wovens, knits, and denim, from concept through bulk approval
Partner with Design at the front end of each season to interpret mood, trend, and hand-feel direction into actionable development targets
Source, develop, and present seasonal fabric offerings that balance newness, seasonal core, and best sellers
Drive innovation in fabrications, finishes, washes, and constructions that differentiate the brand among our competitors in the market
Build and maintain a curated seasonal color palette with Pantone standards and internal color names, including seasonal core/carryover palates across styles and categories
Identify and develop novelty and signature fabrications; manage exclusivity agreements where applicable
Build and manage relationships with international mills, converters, and fabric agents across key sourcing regions
Negotiate pricing, minimums, lead times, and terms in partnership with Product Development and Production
Manage the fabric development calendar with mills so lab dips, strike-offs, handlooms, knit-downs, and bulk yardage land on time to support the master calendar
Attend domestic and international fabric trade shows and conduct mill visits as needed
Partner with QC / QA Team for fabric testing protocols and standards; partner with Design and Technical Design for end use performance requirements for hand feel, weight, shrinkage, colorfastness, pilling, torque, growth, recovery, and durability
Review and send approval comments for lab dips, strike-offs, handlooms, quality submits, and bulk submits
Troubleshoot fabric-related quality issues in development and production and drive root-cause resolution with mills
Maintain fabric specifications, construction, content, weight, width, and finishing standards in PLM
Ensure all fabrics meet regulatory, compliance, and testing requirements
Use commercial judgement on cost, negotiate to hit target margin without compromising quality or hand feel
Propose material solutions to close costing gaps with suggestions for researched yarn substitutions, finishing alternatives, sourcing shifts
Partner with Production and Sourcing on fabric liability, platform buys, and greige/yarn positioning to protect lead times
Provide leadership with visibility into fabric cost trends, raw material market shifts, and supply risk
Advise Design early on feasibility, cost, and hand alternatives before concepts are determined
Present seasonal fabric direction in concept, line review, and adoption meetings
Communicate development status, risks, and trade-offs clearly and proactively in seasonal Proto and SMS line review meetings
Own and organize the physical and digital fabric library, including headers, hangers, swatch cards, and seasonal archives
Maintain accurate, accessible fabric records so Design, Product Development and Production can self-serve