Garment Technologist
West Yorkshire
We are recruiting for a leading UK-based design and wholesale business specialising in lingerie, swimwear and nightwear. Their creative team designs innovative and high-quality products in the UK, while their manufacturing operations are based across China, The Far East and India. They work with an extensive portfolio of UK brands and retailers, delivering fashionable, comfortable, and quality garments that meet clients' exacting standards including specialised adaptive and plus size ranges. The company offer a hybrid working pattern.
Job Overview:
We are looking for an experienced and detail-oriented Garment Technologist with specialised knowledge in lingerie, swimwear, and/or nightwear to join our team. This role is integral to ensuring the products meet the highest standards in fit, quality and comfort. The ideal candidate will have a keen eye for technical details, proficiency in creating and grading size specifications, and the ability to collaborate closely with buyers, designers, and suppliers. Knowledge of garment testing would be an advantage.
Key Responsibilities:
Technical Development – Experience Essential:
- Work with the design team pre-design to ensure styles are correctly CAD’d and BOMS are correct.
- Create, update, and manage technical specifications (size specs) and grading for all assigned products for development and sampling with the factory, liaising continuously with the factories.
- Ensure all garments across lingerie, swimwear, and nightwear, meet fit, comfort, and quality requirements through rigorous checks.
- Conduct fittings both internally and at customer meetings, analyse garment fit, and construction and make recommendations for improvements, ensuring the end product meets the design vision and technical requirements.
- Monitor critical path in conjunction with the merchandiser to ensure timely approval of fit samples, pre-production samples and gold seals.
- Develop size grading for each product type, ensuring consistency across the size range.
- Willingness and ability to travel to customer meetings when required and be present in the office a minimum of 3 days per week.
Ideal/Advantageous Experience:
- Help develop and implement quality control standards and testing protocols (e.g., fabric testing, colour fastness, etc) to ensure product durability and compliance.
- Collaborate with suppliers and testing labs to ensure that materials meet company standards.
- Identify and resolve potential quality or production issues before they impact the final product.
Collaboration and Communication:
- Work directly with buyers, garment techs and designers to align on product specifications, technical needs, and quality standards.
- Conduct face-to-face meetings with garment techs and buyers to present and discuss garment specifications, address fit feedback, and resolve any technical concerns.
- Serve as the key technical liaison between design and production teams, ensuring seamless communication from product concept to final manufacturing.
- Drive continuous improvements in garment fit, comfort, and quality.
Qualifications:
- Experience: Minimum of 2 years as a Garment Technologist, must have experience in lingerie, swimwear, and/or nightwear.
- Excel Skills
- Excellent attention to detail and first-rate communication skills.