Paul Smith
Fabric Developer – Menswear and Womenswear RTW
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About Us
Paul Smith is one of Britain’s leading independent design companies, driven by a spirit of curiosity, playfulness, adaptability, and passion. These values shape every aspect of the brand, whether it’s a shirt, a shop, or a special collaboration. Reaffirming the values that Paul set down in 1970, ‘classic with a twist’ remains the guiding principle of the company. Happily positioned between high fashion and formalwear, while taking reference from both, Paul Smith has always been proud to stand apart.
Job Opportunity
We have an exciting opportunity for a Fabric Developer to join our team. Working closely alongside the Head of Fabric, you will oversee the sourcing, development, and administration of fabrics for the Menswear and Womenswear RTW collections, managing seasonal fabric developments, maintaining accurate fabric information, and ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the fabric department. This role is based full-time in our London head office.
What You'll Be Doing
- Support the Head of Fabric and the Design team by sourcing and developing exclusive fabrics in line with seasonal creative direction and target pricing.
- Help organise and attend sourcing trips and meetings with suppliers, including tradeshows and showrooms.
- Collaborate with premium mills and suppliers to source and develop innovative fabrics seasonally and negotiate pricing and MOQs to meet targets.
- Manage lab dips and fabric developments and arrange fabric testing as required. Maintain clear and proactive communication with mills so developments are actioned accurately.
- Collate and manage fabric information, including pricing, lead times, composition, fabric innovation, etc.
- Maintain and update fabric boards (both physical and InDesign versions) and ensure all information is current and up to date.
- Present fabric selections, developments, and research to the Head of Fabric and the Design teams.
- Maintain clear and consistent communication between Design, Product Development, and Production teams, and attend relevant meetings.
- Organise and keep track of meterage for prototype samples.
- Ensure the Critical Path and key deadlines are met.
- Collate end-of-season sales data and share insights with relevant teams.
- Support the Head of Fabric with departmental administration where required.
- Keep the fabric archive well organised and up to date and manage incoming fabric selections, pricing, and filing.
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Who You Are
- Has extensive knowledge of woven and knitted textiles, including construction, composition, printing, and finishing techniques.
- Experienced in fabric development, ideally from a premium or luxury fashion brand.
- Excellent planning, prioritisation, and organisational skills.
- Able to build effective working relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
- Proficient user of Photoshop, InDesign, and Excel.
- Able to work to strict deadlines and remain calm under pressure.
- Strong understanding of fabric trends, luxury standards, and sustainable practices.
- A creative mindset, with an excellent eye for detail and appreciation of colour, texture, and imagery.
- Proactive, practical, and commercially minded.
- Positive and approachable.
- Has a wide interest in fashion, culture, music, literature, and the arts.
- Passionate about the Paul Smith brand.
- Able to travel within the UK and internationally, as per the requirement for this role.
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Why You'll Love Working with Us
Working at Paul Smith means being part of a brand that celebrates creativity, individuality, and authenticity. Even though we are a global business, we’ve stayed true to who we are at heart. Our offices and shops remain welcoming and inclusive spaces built around collaboration, where we encourage our people to be themselves, reach their full potential, and play a part in creating something truly unique.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support your lifestyle and wellbeing, which includes a 60% staff discount and a seasonal clothing allowance. You’ll also enjoy flexi-time, 33 days’ annual leave with the option to buy or sell holiday days, private healthcare with Vitality, wellbeing support, and other perks to keep you motivated and inspired.
If you like the sound of what you’ve read so far, find out more about our company culture and the full list of benefits we can offer you.
At Paul Smith, we celebrate and encourage applications from all walks of life into our growing workforce. We are committed to empowering people from any background, belief system, or ethnicity, offering an inclusive environment where talent is recognised and valued.
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