Overview
Freelance Senior Garment Technologist (Outerwear)
Location: Central London 4-5 days a week
Purpose
- To lead and oversee all technical development, production, and quality aspects of the Menswear Outerwear & Soft Accessories collections.
Technical Product Development and Engineering
- Provide technical support to Design, Product Development, Merchandising, and Suppliers to meet the Menswear business brief, driving product quality throughout the lifecycle.
- Ensure adherence to critical path timelines across development stages.
- Manage the full fitting process from first prototype to pre-production “gold seal”, engineering Outerwear and Soft Accessories with a balanced focus on design intent, development needs, industrialisation, and quality standards.
- Develop blocks and seasonal key shapes through collaborative fit reviews with Design, PD, Merchandising, and suppliers.
- Conduct seasonal risk assessments during development to identify and highlight potential issues with trims, fabrics, or manufacturing methods.
- Propose and implement risk mitigation strategies through testing and due diligence programmes to optimise product industrialisation.
- Lead communication and sealing processes with suppliers to ensure products are correctly engineered and production-ready within the relevant delivery dates.
- Oversee product handover to the Menswear in-field Quality Inspector, ensuring a smooth transition into production.
- Clearly communicate any product risks, ensuring all relevant stakeholders are informed to effectively manage the critical path, production flow, business impact, and customer expectations.
Product Quality and Compliance
- Own and manage the product testing programme and care label compliance across all relevant product categories.
- Ensure consistent delivery of the highest standards in product quality, fit, and production by working closely with internal teams and external suppliers.
- Maintain and regularly update technical documentation, including Make Standards, Measurement Guidelines, Labelling Guides, Supplier Manuals, Testing Protocols, and Blocks/Grading Manuals.
- Oversee the maintenance and ongoing development of tech packs, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
- Ensure technical and testing manuals remain fully aligned with CSR and the group's compliance guidelines.
- Provide technical and quality support to the Product Compliance team as needed.
General
- Manage technical deadlines within the Outerwear and Soft Accessories categories, ensuring timely delivery of key activities.
- Promote continuous improvement across Quality and Technical systems, encouraging innovation and efficiency.
- Support and interface with Design, Product Development, Merchandising, Production, and Marketing teams to ensure alignment and seamless execution.
Experience
- Proven experience in dynamic, fast-paced environments requiring strong organisational, administrative, and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise a diverse workload under pressure. Highly methodical and process-driven, with exceptional accuracy, attention to detail, and strong database management capabilities.
- Extensive technical experience within a product development environment, with a deep understanding of luxury menswear development flow and the full product lifecycle, from concept to customer. Strong expertise in menswear Outerwear and Soft Accessories, with sound knowledge of product construction, patterns, trims, and fabric testing and compliance standards.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret design intent and market needs into commercially relevant product, while directing supplier fit meetings and ensuring adherence to quality standards, including AQL criteria and inspection protocols.
- Creative and solution-oriented mindset, with the ability to identify risk, lead testing agendas, and adapt to change. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, confident working across all levels and functions, including international supplier engagement. Willing and able to travel across the UK, Europe, and Asia as required.
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