Apparel Materials Specialist

Apparel Materials Specialist
Colceresa, Veneto, Italia – Head Office

Dainese is the global leader in protective equipment and apparel of excellence for motorcycling and dynamic sports. Headquartered in Vicenza, Italy, the company has a presence in EMEA, APAC and the Americas. Dainese owns three prestigious brands – Dainese, AGV and TCX – which are synonymous with innovation and technical excellence. It is present in 96 countries through a consolidated network of wholesale partners, 45 mono‑brand shops and a direct e‑commerce channel.

We are looking for an  Apparel Materials Specialist  to manage the research of fabrics and trims across leather, woven, and knit categories for the Dainese Apparel collection.

This role is responsible for driving material research from concept through bulk production, partnering closely with Design, Merchandising, Product Development, and external suppliers to deliver best‑in‑class technical performance, aesthetic excellence, quality, cost efficiency, and on‑time execution.

The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in technical and performance materials with a strong product mindset, hands‑on development experience, and a passion for innovation.

Responsibilities

Research and development of fabrics and trims across leather, woven, knit, and technical performance materials

Scout and identify new materials, finishes, and components aligned with Dainese product strategy and brand DNA

Partner closely with Design and Merchandising to define material direction, fabric selection, and color development

Develop new material solutions directly with mills and suppliers, balancing performance, quality, cost, and industrial scalability

Evaluate design proposals and proactively recommend alternative materials where needed

Manage sample yardage requests in line with development milestones and collection timelines

Review and approve all development materials for hand feel, technical performance, quality standards, and color accuracy

Identify material‑related risks during development and define alternative solutions to support production readiness

Support cost optimization through material selection and supplier negotiation while maintaining product integrity

Build and nurture strong partnerships with mills, trim suppliers, and strategic vendors

Ensure supplier alignment on development and production timelines

Support troubleshooting and resolution of material‑related issues during production

Drive exclusive material developments to strengthen product DNA and competitive differentiation

Requirements

Minimum 5 years of experience in materials development, textile R&D, or fabric sourcing within apparel or performance products

Strong expertise in technical fabrics and performance materials

Solid understanding of textile construction, finishes, trims, and material testing

Proven experience working directly with mills and suppliers

Strong organizational and project management skills

Proactive, hands‑on, and solution‑oriented mindset

Excellent communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills

Fluent in English and Italian (spoken and written)

Good knowledge of Microsoft Office / Windows applications

Il Gruppo Dainese come datore di lavoro rispetta le pari opportunità. I candidati vengono presi in considerazione per le posizioni senza discriminazioni di sorta riguardanti sesso/genere, religione, origine nazionale, età, disabilità, informazioni genetiche, orientamento sessuale, identità o espressione di genere.

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