Fabric Manager

Position Overview

The Fabric Manager leads the sourcing, development, and commercialization of raw materials across Tuckernuck’s apparel line. This role owns the full fabric development lifecycle— from seasonal research and mill outreach through lab dip approvals, bulk production, and quality compliance—with a strong emphasis on building and managing core fabric franchises that drive consistency, quality, and profitability.

The Fabric Manager is a key cross‑functional role, partnering closely with Design, Production, and Suppliers to ensure the creative vision translates into scalable, cost‑effective materials that meet Tuckernuck’s quality standards and speed‑to‑market requirements.

• Research and source new and running fabrics; manage seasonal development calendars and lab dip requests

• Stay ahead of textile trends, attend trade shows, and bring forward fabric innovation aligned to the Tuckernuck aesthetic
• Build and maintain a curated digital and physical raw materials library organized by mill, category, composition, and end use

• Serve as the primary point of contact for fabric mills and agents; manage submissions, approvals, and follow‑up
• Negotiate pricing, minimums, and bulk lead times; maintain clear knowledge of each supplier’s capabilities, specialties, and innovations
• Ensure all mills and vendors are aligned on seasonal direction and execution requirements throughout development

• Partner with Design, Merchandising, and Production to troubleshoot material issues and elevate appropriately
• Brief Design teams on seasonal fabric toolboxes and creative direction
• Support Production in meeting all technical specifications and testing protocols for on‑time delivery

• Oversee all relevant textile testing (tear, tensile, colorfastness, recovery/wear); identify and implement alternatives when needed
• Ensure compliance with applicable import and material regulations

• Track raw material orders and fabric development through WIP tools (Excel, Airtable, or similar); maintain structured, consistently updated visibility for Design and Production
• Analyze prior season bulk and development data to identify gaps, reduce imbalances, and improve fabric planning efficiency

• Minimum 5 years of experience in fabric R&D, sourcing, or purchasing for an apparel brand
• Direct experience working with domestic and overseas mills, agents, factories, and full‑package vendors
• Deep knowledge of textile construction across wovens and cut‑and‑sew knits— including finishes, weights, widths, shrinkage, and performance characteristics
• Strong understanding of fabric costing, MOQs, sample yardage needs, bulk approval requirements, and production timelines
• Exceptional organizational skills and follow‑through; able to manage multiple fabric programs simultaneously
• Clear, effective communicator across internal teams and external partners
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Outlook, PLM and WIP tracking tools

• Deep passion for the Tuckernuck brand and a strong understanding of our customer, product positioning, and growth strategy.
• Extensive expertise in sourcing and fabric development.
• Strategic and solutions‑oriented leader with the ability to anticipate challenges and drive business‑focused outcomes.
• Strong operational mindset with a proven ability to build scalable processes, systems, and teams.
• Exceptional project management skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities, timelines, and stakeholders.
• Highly collaborative leader who builds strong partnerships across Design, Merchandising, Planning, Logistics, and Executive Leadership.
• Outstanding communication, negotiation, and relationship‑building skills with internal teams, vendors, and manufacturing partners.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, develop, and lead high‑performing teams through periods of growth and change.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, evolving environment while maintaining a high level of…