Our Client, a Designer luxury brand is looking for an enthusiastic and passionate Product Developer to join their team and lead the development process across all categories of the collection.
As Product Developer, you will be collaborating with the design team, ensuring their concepts are represented for each collection. You will be required to supervise the product development process from the handover of the range plan through to submission of selling samples; ensuring styles are constructed cost effectively, meeting strict deadlines.
A key part of the role includes liaising with manufacturers daily, ensuring requests and deliveries are met through the critical path.
Knowledge, skills and experience required
Product Developer with relevant experience
Expertise in developing multi product womenswear
Ability to work both independently and part of a team and able to assist others when necessary
Methodical, analytical, and driven to make solutions
Ability to work under pressure whilst having a calm approach
Highly organised, good negotiator and influencer both within external & internal aspects of the business
Strong communications skills with clear and professional approach
Professional, dedicated, hardworking and committed person willing to invest long term
Demonstrates taste level that aligns with the brand
Experience of dealing with offshore suppliers
Experience working in a fast-paced environment, ensuring critical path is honoured
Experience within a luxury womenswear brand with fashion week experience preferred
Highly organised in pre-planning and managing the materials library
Experience of working in an atelier preferred
Travel may be required
Experience working with Zedonk
Responsibilities
Work seasons in advance to drive innovation and develop / source fabrications prior to each season, working closely with design to capture their vision
Support the designers through developing seasonal collections from design concept through to prototypes
Continually research raw materials and trims working with suppliers and vendors to build on the materials library
Liaise with our factory base and suppliers ahead of each season for sourcing, ensuring lead times are discussed in advance and to confirm booking of sampling materials / trims
Good knowledge of fabric and trim testing against testing requirements
Taking responsibility for all fabric selections and approvals
Working with the designers to deliver technical packs to manufacturers
Attend initial and press fittings each season ensuring materials, trims and colours are confirmed with design and to liaise with the factory base on any potential changes
Continually manage the range plan during the development stages as this evolves
Communicate changes after each stage of fitting to the factory base in terms of fabrication and trims
Awareness and management of key dates within the critical path for assigned categories across all fit stages
Manage the handover to production – liaising with design and technical department i.e., lab dips approvals and ensuring materials are fit for purpose along with carrying out the approval of raw material submissions. This will be across the entire collection, every season
Working closely with the design team, technical team & HK office on all seasonal and exclusive collections
Supporting sales team with product information