Garment Technologist

Havant, England, United Kingdom

Role: Garment Tech

Location: Havant, Hampshire

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

Looking for the next adventure? Named in The Sunday Times 2023 Best Places to Work now is a great time to join our journey and build your career.

Who are we?

For over 30 years, we’ve travelled, we’ve laughed, we’ve grown. We believe life is for living and more fun with those we love. Our purpose is to bring style and positivity to our customers lives through the clothes we make, the things we do and the values we have.

We are Made for Life. Considered style. Trusted quality. Sustainably sourced. Proud to be a B Corp™.

Equality and inclusion isn’t an aspiration but the standard. We promote and drive equality within our workforce to ignite an inclusive foundation for us all to build from and truly connect with our customers, colleagues, and communities alike. You play a key part in creating an environment free from prejudice, racism, sexism, harassment, bullying and any other form of marginalisation in our workplaces.

Role Summary

To ensure the development and production of each product meets our customers' expectations. Thriving for the best quality, fabrication and manufacturing while maximising launch availability and margin. Ensuring raw materials and garment construction are fit for purpose and are built to last. Agree supplier strategy for area of responsibility, driving continual improvement in product and process. Whilst seeking the latest sustainable, innovative raw materials and best partners to deliver FatFaces’ product strategy.

Role Responsibilities

• Work with team to produce department product and supplier strategy in line with overall company strategy, proposing technical developments and successfully implement.

• Work closely with the designer and buyer to identify new key shapes for the season and develop blocks where appropriate.

• Provide technical support to Design and Buying and promote close working relationships to ensure suitability of product for its designed end use

• Work closely cross functionally to produce clear design packs for suppliers which will result in correct samples. Support design with product specification where needed.

• Risk analyse the range at packs out identifying and implementing wearer trials where applicable. Discuss potential risks with team and supply base and action as appropriate.

• Develop the product through the fitting and approval process with the designer and buyer, ensuring that all FatFace standards of fit and performance are met and are consistent.

• Manage the fabric section of the critical path ensuring that all test reports and care instructions are approved in a timely manner.

• Review best and worst sellers and returns analysis post season to learn product lessons and implement improvements.

• Manage any QC on holds alongside the Quality team to ensure that commercially acceptable product reaches stores without any delays.

• Manage supply base to ensure that they are producing product to FatFace quality, sustainability and ethical standards.

Skills and Experience

• In depth knowledge of developing product for fit, quality, performance and compliance

• Experience of managing and leading team members

• Experience of working directly with suppliers to improve manufacture, fit and reducing quality returns

• Experience of successfully implementing strategy

• An understanding of sustainable raw materials & manufacture to question & seek the most sustainable solution

• Professional qualification in Fashion, Clothing or Textiles

• Ability to see the big picture without losing sight of the details

• Strong communication and influencing at all levels

• Great planning and organisational skills, able to change plans in line with business needs Ability to risk analyse product

• Ability to think strategically and drive change

• Must have energy, enthusiasm, drive and a ‘can do’ attitude

Role Competencies

• Thorough knowledge of garment construction, pattern cutting techniques and the fitting process. To be competent in fabric testing standards and textile labelling requirements

• To be confident in of garment wash techniques, processes and ability to problem solve

• A thorough understanding of fashion retail processes

• To be confident in understanding of the FatFace customer, competition and their product

• A great understanding of Garment production systems & factory requirements

• A good Knowledge of sustainable raw materials

• An understanding of ethical sourcing

Key Contacts and Relationships:

• External: (suppliers, service providers, customers) Suppliers and Customers

• Internal: (Crew/Management within own department or other department).

Product team members other departments (including warehouse and retail)

Accountable for Resources:

• Physical – production samples- the role uses these to make improvements/commercial decisions about the product. These are then used as agreed standards with the supplier

• Brand image - Quality of the product – the role is responsible for ensuring their product meets FatFace standards, the brand is de-valued in the eyes of the customer if this is not achieved

• Company integrity – a significant part of the role involves making agreements with suppliers which can affect the suppliers desire to deal with FatFace as one of their customers.