Raw Materials Assistant

Retrofête•New York, NY

4d•$50,000 - $55,000

About The Position

The Raw Materials Assistant supports the execution and organization of raw material development for Retrofête and Seroya. The role has primary ownership of designated Seroya material records and collections, lab dip follow-up, raw material submit organization, the raw materials library, and care-label and compliance coordination. The Raw Materials Assistant also supports the Raw Materials Associate with production lab dip approvals and bulk raw material approvals.

Requirements

1–2 years of experience in raw materials, textile development, product development, or a related apparel/fashion role (internship experience considered).
Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail — this role requires managing multiple material records, submissions, and approvals simultaneously without letting anything slip.
Comfortable working with spreadsheets and material tracking systems (Excel/Google Sheets fluency a must; experience with PLM systems a plus).
Basic understanding of fabric types, construction, and textile terminology, or strong willingness to learn quickly.
Clear, proactive communicator — comfortable following up with factories, suppliers, and internal teams to keep timelines on track.
Ability to prioritize and escalate appropriately, knowing when to flag a delay versus resolve it independently.
Collaborative mindset — this role shares ownership of several processes with the Raw Materials Associate, so being a strong partner and communicator is essential.
Passion for fashion and raw materials development, with genuine curiosity about how fabric choices shape a finished product.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising, Textile Design, Apparel Production, or a related field preferred.
Experience with PLM systems a plus.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary owner of the Seroya Master FDS/Fabric Chart.
Maintain accurate and current fabric and raw material information for Seroya.
Coordinate with the Raw Materials Associate, who owns the corresponding Retrofête records.
Serve as the primary owner of lab dip follow-up.
Track outstanding lab dips and communicate with the appropriate internal teams, factories, and suppliers regarding status.
Maintain visibility of pending submissions, comments, resubmissions, and approvals.
Support the Raw Materials Associate with production lab dip launches and approvals.
Escalate unresolved or delayed lab dip issues to the Raw Materials Associate or Manager.
Serve as the primary owner of Seroya SMS swatch, FDS, and strike-off collection.
Collect, organize, and track required Seroya material submissions.
Maintain visibility of received and outstanding materials.
Prepare records and submissions for final review by the Raw Materials Associate and Manager.
Share primary ownership of bulk raw material submit organization and the raw materials library with the Raw Materials Associate.
Receive, organize, label, and maintain bulk raw material submissions.
Maintain an organized and accessible physical and digital raw materials library.
Ensure material submissions and approved references are filed consistently.
Support the Raw Materials Associate with bulk raw material approvals.
Organize submissions for review and communicate approval status or required follow-up.
Track outstanding bulk approvals and escalate delays or discrepancies.
Share primary ownership of care-label, compliance, and testing coordination with the Raw Materials Associate.
Organize and track care-label and compliance information.
Follow up on missing documentation or required testing information.
Escalate issues requiring additional review or approval.