Procurement & Sourcing - Menswear Apparel Startup

Position: Procurement & Sourcing Role - Menswear Apparel Startup
About the Role We are looking for a highly execution-driven  Procurement & Sourcing person  to own end-to-end sourcing for our menswear brand. This role is responsible for identifying and managing fabric vendors, trim suppliers, job workers, and manufacturing partners to ensure timely, cost-effective, and quality-driven production.
The ideal candidate understands menswear construction, fabrics, costing, vendor negotiations, and production coordination. This is a high-ownership role requiring strong commercial judgment, speed, and attention to detail.

Key Responsibilities
1. Fabric & Trim Sourcing  Source fabrics, trims, packaging materials, labels, and accessories aligned with product requirements.
Develop and maintain a strong vendor base across mills, wholesalers, importers, and manufacturers.
Identify alternative sourcing options to optimize cost, MOQ, lead time, and quality.
Ensure timely procurement of all raw materials.
2. Vendor & Factory Management  Identify, onboard, and manage garment vendors, factories, and job workers.
Negotiate pricing, payment terms, production timelines, and commercial agreements.
Build strong relationships with vendors to improve responsiveness and reliability.
Ensure vendor performance in terms of quality, timelines, and consistency.
3. Costing & Commercials  Prepare and manage garment costing sheets.
Work closely with merchandising and founders to optimize margins.
Negotiate fabric and production rates without compromising quality.
Maintain cost benchmarks across categories.
4. Sampling & Development Coordination  Coordinate proto, fit, and production samples with vendors.
Ensure sourcing aligns with design and product intent.
Resolve sourcing, construction, or feasibility challenges during development.
5. Production Coordination  Coordinate with merchandising, production, and factories for material readiness.
Track order status and ensure on-time production execution.
Follow up proactively to avoid delays or bottlenecks.
6. Quality & Compliance  Ensure sourced materials meet required quality standards.
Coordinate fabric testing, shrinkage, GSM, shade consistency, and quality checks where required.
Escalate and resolve quality deviations with vendors.
7. Inventory & Procurement Planning  Plan procurement based on production timelines and demand.
Avoid stockouts as well as excess procurement.
Maintain procurement records and vendor databases.
What We’re Looking For  3–8+ years of experience in apparel sourcing/procurement/merchandising.
Strong network of fabric vendors, trim suppliers, factories, and job workers.
Deep understanding of menswear fabrics, garment construction, washes, trims, and costing.
Strong negotiation and commercial skills.
Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment with high ownership.
Detail-oriented and highly execution-driven.
Experience in woven menswear (shirts, trousers, cargos, overshirts, jackets, etc.) preferred.
Good-to-Have  Experience working with D2C or fashion startup brands.
Understanding of production processes and garment quality.
Exposure to vendor development and factory sourcing.
Success in This Role Looks Like  Right quality at the right price.
Strong and dependable vendor network.
Timely procurement with minimal delays.
Better margins through smart sourcing.
Smooth coordination between design, merchandising, and production.
Reduced production bottlenecks and quality issues.
Work Style This role requires a hands-on, problem-solving mindset with strong ownership. We value people who move fast, follow through, and take accountability for outcomes—not just coordination.