Associate Designer & Sourcing Manager

Role: Associate Designer & Sourcing Manager

mettā muse SA

Bangalore (Hybrid work)

Full-time role under Freelance Contract base

mettā muse

mettā muse is a B2B sustainable sourcing platform that curates a network of exceptional artisan-led businesses across weaving, hand-embroidery, knitting, metalwork, ceramics, leatherwork, woodwork, and upcycling. The team oversees the entire collaboration and creation process, bridging language and cultural differences, ensuring clear communication, and building long-term trust. 

We are committed to fair wages, slave-free labour practices, and the economic dignity of artisan communities. 70% of the businesses in our network are female-led. With a strong focus on handcrafted techniques, an order-on-demand model, and reduced mechanisation, we support low-carbon, waste-minimising, and socially conscious production. mettā muse upholds the highest standards of environmental and social performance, transparency, and accountability.

pink maharani

pink maharani was founded in Geneva on the belief that the finest fashion can be created by upholding craftsmanship and putting humans, animals, and the environment first. We specialise in handwoven ethical cashmere, rooted in traditional techniques and refined with subtle European flair. Our collections also occasionally include fine cotton, silk, suri alpaca, and other natural fibres. 

The brand began as a quest to source the finest handwoven cashmere from conflict-affected Kashmir. Today, we work with over 150 artisans across India, Peru, Bhutan, Nepal, and Cambodia, preserving heritage techniques while enabling economic and creative empowerment. 

Our team holds a deep commitment to quality, impact, and integrity, constantly reminding us that we are not just a fashion company, but part of a larger movement to build bridges through craft and community.

Roles & Responsibilities:

As an Associate Designer & Sourcing Manager, you will play a pivotal role in creating sustainable and impactful designs that uphold our commitment to artisanal craftsmanship and global market standards. You will collaborate with both internal teams and artisan partners to deliver high quality products for mettā muse and, where relevant, pink maharani.

Design, Product Development and Lifecycle Management:

• Partner closely with artisans to create new product lines for mettā muse and selected pink maharani capsules, maintaining rigorous quality standards and ethical production based of the inputs from the design team. 
• Supervise the full product lifecycle, including sampling, testing, early-stage prototyping, and quality control.
• Occasionally design co-creation and product co-development. Expectation lies at managing clear processes and deliverables with artisans, looking for creative solutions to solve challenges along the way. Some design inputs are requested on the go but is not a primary skill set necessary for this role.

Artisanal Engagement, Relationship Management, and Training:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with artisan communities, ensuring their skills are integrated into designs.
• Act as the primary point of contact for artisans, addressing their needs, concerns, and inquiries.
• Organize training modules to enhance artisanal techniques and nurture the growth of artisan businesses.
• Negotiate with artisans with a win-win mindset. 

Ethical Sourcing and Production Oversight:

• Uphold strict adherence to ethical sourcing and production practices, following ESG guidelines and conducting regular audits.
• Address production challenges proactively, finding sustainable solutions that maintain design integrity.
• Conduct yearly audits with key artisans and sign the agreements accordingly. 

Quality Control, Assurance, and Stakeholder Communication:

• Establish rigorous QC processes, ensuring each product resonates with mettā muse's quality standards. This is key piece of work with logical analystical skills to understand and anticipate QC challenges. 
• Collaborate with internal teams, including marketing, sales, and logistics, for a cohesive product launch and distribution strategy.
• Engage in design-related forums, workshops, and events, representing mettā muse’s philosophy.

Administration and Compliance:

• Assist the team with basic accounting and documentation 
• Assist in impact data reporting 
• Basic research work on subject relevant topics.

Requirements for the Role:

• Bachelor’s degree (not a must) in Industrial Design, Fashion Design, or a related field.
• Mastery of design software, particularly Adobe Creative Suite.
• Basic Project Management skills with process management and timeline based deliverables.
• Good understanding of sustainable materials, ethical sourcing, and eco-friendly design practices.
• Experience working with recycled or upcycled materials and collaborating with artisan communities, nice to have. 
• Strong coordination skills with cross-functional teams and ability to manage multiple projects.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with proficiency in English and regional languages (Hindi is preferential since most artisans prefer this).
• Alignment with mettā muse's values of sustainability, impact, and artisan upliftment.

Other important traits

• A high level of personal integrity and teamwork spirit
• Self-motivated and driven to achieve results
• High inclination to regular and constructive feedback and to growth mindset. 
• Alignment with our company values (Deep Impact, Entrepreneurial and Aligned, Bold and Humble, Respect and Care, Joyful Excellence and Kindness)
• A strong will to get things done and a kind heart to listen to your intuition
• Excellent relationship builder with an independent work style
• Passion for the social business, design and creation. 
• You are entrepreneurial, aligned, bold yet humble. You thrive on joyful excellence and have a growth mindset. 
• Team management - nice to have 

How to apply

Please forward your CV with your portfolio and a cover letter. Incomplete submissions will not be considered, and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.

Contact Person:

Email Address:

It is our commitment that every qualified person will be evaluated according to skills, regardless of age, gender, identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability status or religion. We look forward to hearing from you! 

Compensation: 7.5 to 8.5 LPA, based on experience and skill set match

This will be paid out under the Freelance contract at the end of month. Travel expenditures to be reimbursed according to company policy.