Fabric Merchandiser Job Description Overview
The role of a Fabric Merchandiser is crucial in the Textiles/Fashion sector, as it bridges the gap between design, production, and sales, ensuring the timely delivery of quality fabrics to meet market demands. This position plays a vital role in the company’s success by maintaining strong relationships with suppliers, monitoring industry trends, and ensuring the right fabrics are sourced within budget constraints.
- The Fabric Merchandiser impacts team collaboration by working closely with designers, production teams, and sales departments to align fabric choices with market trends and customer preferences.
- This role plays a significant part in achieving company goals by ensuring the availability of high-quality fabrics that meet the standards of the brand and appeal to the target audience.
- Major innovations in this role include leveraging digital tools for fabric sourcing, sustainability initiatives in material selection, and adapting to fast-changing fashion trends.
- Key stakeholders for a Fabric Merchandiser include suppliers, designers, production managers, and retail partners. This position typically reports to the Product Development Manager or Merchandising Director.
- Success in this role is measured by meeting fabric quality standards, maintaining healthy supplier relationships, achieving cost targets, and contributing to product sales growth. Key performance indicators include on-time delivery rates, cost variance, and fabric wastage percentages.
Key Responsibilities
As a Fabric Merchandiser, you will be responsible for:
- Project Planning and Execution: You will oversee the planning, scheduling, and execution of fabric-related projects, ensuring timely delivery and quality standards are met.
- Problem-Solving and Decision-Making: Addressing fabric quality issues, production delays, and cost challenges through effective problem-solving and decision-making to maintain project timelines.
- Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams: Working closely with design, production, and sales teams to align fabric choices with market trends and product requirements.
- Leadership and Mentorship: Providing guidance to junior merchandising staff, coordinating team efforts, and fostering a collaborative work environment.
- Process Improvement and Innovation: Identifying opportunities for process optimization, cost savings, and sustainable fabric sourcing practices to drive continuous improvement.
- Technical or Customer-Facing Responsibilities: Interfacing with fabric suppliers, conducting quality assessments, negotiating contracts, and ensuring fabrics meet brand standards.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To excel in this role, you should possess:
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in fabric sourcing, quality assessment, supplier management, ERP systems, and Microsoft Excel for data analysis.
- Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Textile Merchandising, Fashion Design, or a related field. Certification in Supply Chain Management is a plus.
- Experience Level: Minimum 3 years of experience in fabric merchandising, preferably in the fashion industry. Experience in vendor negotiations and global sourcing is desirable.
- Soft Skills: Strong communication skills, negotiation abilities, attention to detail, adaptability to changing market demands, and leadership qualities to guide cross-functional teams.
- Industry Knowledge: Understanding of textile regulations, fabric testing standards, sustainable sourcing practices, and market trends impacting fabric choices.
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred qualifications include:
- Experience in similar fashion companies or handling diverse fabric projects.
- Advanced certifications in textile quality control or sustainable sourcing practices.
- Familiarity with AI tools for trend analysis, automation in procurement, or digital fabric libraries.
- Demonstrated experience in scaling fabric operations, expanding into global markets, or implementing innovative merchandising strategies.
- Participation in industry conferences, speaking engagements on fabric trends, or published articles on sustainable textiles.
- Proficiency in additional languages to facilitate international fabric sourcing and collaboration.
Compensation and Benefits
We offer competitive compensation and benefits, including:
- Base Salary: Competitive salary based on experience and industry standards.
- Bonuses & Incentives: Performance-based bonuses, profit-sharing, and potential stock options.
- Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage, with wellness programs to support employee health.
- Retirement Plans: 401k plan with employer matching contributions to secure your financial future.
- Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, sick leave, parental leave, and personal days for work-life balance.
- Career Growth: Access to training programs, courses, mentorships, and professional development opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
Application Process
Here’s what to expect when applying for the Fabric Merchandiser position:
- Submitting Your Application: Interested candidates must submit their resume and cover letter through our online application portal.
- Initial Screening: Our HR team will review applications and schedule screening interviews to evaluate qualifications.
- Technical and Skills Assessment: Qualified candidates may undergo tests or case studies to assess fabric merchandising skills.
- Final Interview: Successful candidates from the assessment stage will interview with the hiring manager to determine fit with the role and company culture.
- Offer and Onboarding: Selected candidates will receive an official offer and begin the onboarding process to smoothly integrate into the team.
