Import Apparel Production & Merchandising Specialist

This opportunity involves managing the end-to-end merchandising and production process for imported clothing ranges, including product development and costing through to factory production, international shipping, customs clearing, and final delivery.

The environment suits a detail-oriented, commercially aware, and highly organised professional who excels at managing multiple styles and production orders concurrently.  By tracking production milestones, managing sample approvals, evaluating landed costs, and resolving international logistics or documentation bottlenecks you will protect product margins and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Product Development & Range Management: Work from briefs, samples, and customer specifications; communicate requirements to overseas factories; source fabrics, trims, and accessories; and manage the sample approval workflow.
  

• Factory & Supplier Management: Communicate directly with overseas manufacturers, issue purchase orders, monitor production schedules, negotiate pricing and minimum order quantities, and resolve manufacturing queries.
  

• Importing & International Procurement: Manage international procurement from placement to arrival in South Africa, liaising with freight forwarders and clearing agents to verify documentation (commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates) and track shipments.
  

• Costing & Pricing: Calculate precise landed costs (including freight, duties, and clearing), monitor exchange-rate impacts, compare supplier pricing, and assist management with recommended selling prices and margins.
  

• Production Monitoring: Track manufacturing progress across fabric ordering, cutting, sewing, finishing, packing, and dispatch to ensure alignment with approved pre-production samples.
  

• Quality Control Coordination: Ensure imported products meet internal quality standards, coordinate with Quality Assurance on specifications and fabric testing, and manage corrective actions prior to shipment.
  

• Stock & Order Administration: Maintain records of purchase orders, track stock in production and transit, communicate delivery timelines to internal teams, and assist with forecasting.
  

• Reporting & Documentation: Compile regular reports regarding order statuses, production progress, shipment schedules, landed costs, and supplier performance.
  

Requirements

Essential Requirements

• 3–5 years’ experience in clothing merchandising, preferably within a manufacturing, importing, or wholesale environment.
  

• Proven, direct experience working with overseas clothing factories.
  

• Practical experience importing clothing into South Africa, including working knowledge of shipping, freight processes, and import documentation.
  

• Demonstrated experience managing the complete clothing production lifecycle from order placement to final delivery.
  

• Solid understanding of garment manufacturing processes, fabric/trim sourcing, and product costing.
  

• Strong computer skills, specifically with Microsoft Excel.
  

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
  

Desirable Requirements

• Experience importing from major apparel-manufacturing markets such as China, Bangladesh, or Turkey.
  

• Practical experience with garment construction, quality control, fabric testing, and factory inspections.
  

• Existing working relationships with overseas clothing manufacturers, freight forwarders, and clearing agents.
  

Required Software Skills

• Microsoft Excel
  

Benefits

Work Arrangement

• On-site / In office (Parow, Cape Town)
  

Employment Type

• Permanent