Color Specialist

At Pair of Thieves, we make basics that are anything but basic. Our socks, underwear, and apparel are built to perform like they should and feel like they shouldn’t be this soft. We’re a $100M+ brand found nationwide in Target, Walmart, and top-tier boutiques and we’re still just getting started. Our motto, Only the best, but only for everyone, guides everything we do from our product design to the people who bring it to life.

Pair of Thieves is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Color Specialist to support the Design and Product Development teams. This is not a design role it’s a process and execution role responsible for managing the flow of color information, standards, and approvals through the entire product development pipeline.

The ideal candidate will have a sharp eye for color, a solid understanding of fabric substrates, dye processes, and a methodical approach to managing digital and physical color assets. This role is essential in maintaining brand consistency and ensuring that every sock, tee, and waistband stays perfectly on brand, regardless of fabric, factory, or season.

• Own the color development and approval process from initial concept through TOP (top of production) approval.
• Manage all seasonal color palettes and libraries across all product programs.
• Maintain, order and update Pantone TCX standards, Centric PLM color libraries, and physical color chips.
• Review and approve lab dips, print strike-offs, and trims for color accuracy, consistency, and substrate alignment.
• Plan/Coordinate wash/wear-testing’s to confirm colorfastness, crocking, and performance across materials and blends.
• Partner with Design Ops and Product Development to ensure accurate color communication and timely feedback to vendors.
• Archive and organize all approved colors, standards, and references in-house, and in PLM for future use.

• Process artwork, print and color files for PLM entry, ensuring correct file naming, colorway data, and style linkage.
• Support preparation of artwork and color references for internal reviews, presentations, and seasonal meetings.
• Create and assign style numbers and knit SKUs for new developments, maintaining data accuracy across logs.
• Keep digital and physical color libraries, files, and standards organized and easy to access for all cross‑functional partners.
• Provide light creative support, including recolors and print updates in Adobe Illustrator.
• Create and manage seasonal program swatch libraries within Adobe Illustrator (e.g., Super Fit Mesh, Quick‑Dry, Super Soft Lounge, etc.).

• Act as liaison between Design, Product Development, and vendors to manage the full color approval workflow.
• Lead weekly “Show + Share” sessions to present new lab dips, strike-offs, and samples for review and approval.
• Maintain clear documentation, meeting recaps, and updates to development logs (LOGs/POGs) following reviews.
• Keep the color wall, swatch library, and digital dashboards up to date with the latest palette and sample status.

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Textile Science, or related field.
• 5–7 years of experience in apparel color management, product development, or textile design support.
• Strong knowledge of Pantone systems, lab dip and print strike‑off processes, and fabric color behavior.
• Deep knowledge of dye processes, fabric constructions, and color measurement systems.
• Proven ability to communicate shade direction clearly with overseas mills and factories (China, Vietnam, India, etc.).
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and PLM software (Centric, WFX, or similar).
• Extremely organized, detail‑driven, and able to manage multiple programs simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and follow‑through across cross‑functional teams.
• Calm, curious, and solution‑oriented; when colors go rogue, you’re the person who brings them back home.