Fabric Manager

As the Fabric Manager you will drive the research, development, and execution of fabrics and trims that elevate the Lands’ End brand. This role partners closely with design, sourcing, and global mill/vendor partners to deliver brand‑right, high‑quality, and on‑trend fabrics that meet seasonal timelines, quality standards, and cost targets.

Key Responsibilities

• Familiar with all Lands’ End fabric requirements, expectations and inspection procedures pertaining to LEO business and its customer’s required standards.


• Establish textile sourcing strategy to support brand requirements across quality, speed, cost, and sustainability that align with sourcing strategy.


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  Drive the T&A and Fabric WIP through daily communication with internal cross-functional teams and external vendor/mill partners in the development of seasonal/monthly fabrics working within pricing structure.

  
  


• Monitor fabric quality performance by supplier.


• Works closely with textile mills to build relationships between Lands’ End, mills and garment vendors.


• Monitor bulk fabric production and address any production concerns as they might arise.


• Clear communication to the LEO sourcing team to stay aligned with fabric/garment production.


• Educate mills and printers in the correct Lands’ End procedures, fabric performance standards, RSL requirements, and legislative requirements.


• Supports the efforts of establishing fabric mill evaluation standards, process and CAP follow-up.


• Provides Technical Support and risk assessment to cross functional teams related to garment washing quality, and related process/techniques.


• Provides problem solving support, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation to improve mill performance.


• Monitor textile mill matrix.  Update and report quarterly.  


• Develop dashboard for quarterly mill performance.


• Evaluate mill matrix on an annual basis to determine long term strategy.     


• Develop fabric that meets brand quality, aesthetic and target price while hitting seasonal deadlines as well as maintaining higher quality standards per LEO SOP’s.


• Resolve bulk fabric and garment related quality issues with mills and vendors.


• Develop mill and vendor technical capabilities.


• Assess risk during development to avoid downstream quality issues.


• Partner with cross-functional teams to develop innovative fabric/yarn/finishing solutions.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of experience in global fabric research and development. Experience in apparel retail and B2B, a plus.


• Strong knowledge of yarns, knits, wovens, trims, and fabric mills.


• Ability to research fabric according to trend direction and to support business strategies and outlined seasonal expectations.


• Proven ability to manage multiple timelines and drive work to completion.


• Experience with Microsoft Office and WEB PLM.


• Management experience preferred.


• Detail‑oriented with strong problem‑solving and communication skills.


• Ability to travel 10+ days per year.