Reports to: Founder
Works closely with: Design, Garment Merchandising, PPC, QA/QC, Farm/Yarn teams, Accounts
Core Purpose of the Role
To own the entire fabric side of the business – from translating buyer briefs into fabric developments, through sourcing and sampling, to bulk fabric readiness – ensuring right quality, right cost, right delivery, aligned with Oshadi’s regenerative and high-end positioning.
Key Roles & Responsibilities
1. Fabric Development & Technical Specifications
- Translate buyer / design briefs into clear fabric specifications
(fiber content, count, construction, EPI/PPI, weave/knit structure, GSM, width, finishes, dyeing/printing route).
- Develop new base qualities and seasonal fabric stories (voiles, poplins, denims, knits, jacquards, etc.) suitable for high-end customers.
- Coordinate bit looms, strike-offs, lab dips, sample yardage with internal & external partners.
- Maintain a structured fabric library:
- Approved qualities per client
- Colour cards, test reports, handfeel references.
2. Sourcing & Vendor Management
- Identify, onboard and manage a reliable network of weavers, knitters, dyers, printers, finishers and labs in line with GOTS / organic / regenerative requirements where applicable.
- Negotiate prices, lead times, MOQs and payment terms with all fabric vendors and processors.
- Monitor vendor performance on:
- Quality
- On-time delivery
- Response time / flexibility
- Take corrective action with underperforming vendors; recommend vendor rationalisation where needed.
3. Fabric Costing & Margin Management
- Prepare accurate fabric costings for all developments and bulk programmes:
- Yarn cost, conversion charges, processing (dye/print/finish), testing, wastage and overhead allocation.
- Work with IE / Costing / Accounts to ensure costing logic is consistent and transparent across clients and seasons.
- Support garment merchandising by providing:
- Final fabric rates
- Cost implication of design changes (width change, weave change, print vs dye).
- Highlight margin risks (e.g. yarn price spikes, extra processes, low yields) early and propose mitigation options.
4. Order Tracking, T&A & Coordination
- Create and maintain T&A calendars for all fabric developments and bulk fabric orders per buyer/style.
- Ensure critical path milestones are tracked and met:
- Bit loom / strike-off / lab-dip approval
- Sample yardage readiness
- Bulk greige-in, processing-in, finishing-out, inspection, dispatch to garmenting.
- Coordinate closely with PPC and Garment Merchandising so that fabric readiness aligns with cutting and production start dates.
- Proactively flag delays or risks with clear options (expedite, alternate vendor, alternate process).
5. Quality, Testing & Compliance
- Define fabric quality standards per buyer/season (shrinkage, torque, colour fastness, seam slippage, pilling, etc.).
- Plan and coordinate testing with labs (SGS / BV / in-house lab) and ensure reports meet buyer requirements.
- Work with QC to ensure:
- Fabric inspection systems (4-point / 10-point) are implemented and recorded.
- Clear disposition of rejects/seconds and root cause analysis with vendors.
- Ensure all fabrics meet certification / traceability needs (GOTS, organic, regenerative, traceability docs, test reports).
6. Buyer / Client Communication (Fabric Side)
- Act as the primary fabric contact for key buyers and their teams (design, PD, merchandising).
- Share:
- Swatches, hangers, strike-offs, lab dips and updated colourways.
- Technical clarifications and testing updates.
- Participate in range development discussions and proactively suggest suitable Oshadi fabrics and finishes for buyer’s silhouettes.
- Manage revision cycles (R1, R2 etc.) and maintain clear documentation of what has been approved by whom and when.
7. Data, Systems & Reporting
- Maintain updated tracking sheets / ERP data for:
- All ongoing fabric developments
- Bulk fabric orders and their status
- Vendor-wise price lists and lead times.
- Generate weekly fabric status reports for management:
- Key achievements
- Delayed items and reasons
- Decisions/support required from management.
- Work with accounts to verify fabric supplier bills, ensure rates & quantities match POs and approvals.
8. Process Improvement & Team Management
- Document and refine SOPs for fabric development and sourcing, including:
- New quality development flow
- Strike-off / lab-dip approval process
- Bulk ordering and inspection.
- Train and mentor any junior merchandisers / assistants in fabric basics, communication standards and data discipline.
- Continuously look for ways to:
- Reduce development lead times
- Improve first-time approval rates
- Lower cost without compromising quality or ethics.
9. Alignment with Regenerative / Seed-to-Sew Vision
- Work with farm/yarn teams to prioritise in-house regenerative yarns where possible.
- Support story-telling needs by keeping clean traceability from farm → yarn → fabric for key programmes.
- Ensure sourcing decisions support long-term relationships and ethical production, not just short-term price gains.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From ₹70,000.00 per month
Work Location: In person
