ABOUT THE COMPANY Tiger of Sweden is a Stockholm-based fashion house established in 1903 with a heritage in tailoring. For more than a century, Tiger of Sweden has stood for style with purpose, dressing men and women for whom true style is about the confidence to be themselves.
POSITION OVERVIEW As Raw Material Development Manager, you will be responsible for the development of all Tiger of Sweden fabrics and trims. Your work will be in line with our creative vision, commercial needs, business KPIs and sustainability targets, and you will maintain and revitalise our existing continuity lines. You bring in-depth knowledge of fabric construction, finishes and costing across all product groups, as well as a strong understanding of the global supply chain. Reporting to the [Head of Product Development], you will work closely with raw material suppliers and the Design and Product teams to execute creative and commercial briefs. You will also troubleshoot throughout the development process to ensure every product is fit for its end use.
TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES
Fabric Development:
Design and develop raw materials that are fit for purpose, the customer and the brand, and that meet gross margin targets.
Be the business lead for R&D of new fabrics, technologies, concepts and future ideas.
Support, educate and inspire colleagues on fabric choice and new innovations.
Arrange and lead trips to mills and trade fairs.
Negotiate lead times and minimums with fabric suppliers from development through to bulk.
Technical Excellence:
Build a close working partnership with the Design Team to translate ideas into products.
Communicate design ideas effectively to mills and suppliers.
Provide feedback on technical feasibility and propose solutions to ensure the vision is translated into product.
Timeline Creation & Management:
Plan, coordinate and execute raw material timing for all projects from brief to bulk, in partnership with the Head of Product Development.
Ensure adherence to the critical path for design and suppliers to secure deadlines.
Identify and mitigate risks and challenges in good time.
Supplier Partnership & Management:
Build and maintain effective relationships with all raw material and fabric suppliers, with a working knowledge of their capabilities and supply chains.
Ensure all mills and suppliers adhere to Tiger of Sweden's Chemical and Quality Standards, and act as the contact person for related queries.
Strengthen partnerships between fabric suppliers and garment manufacturers to secure on-time deliveries and production-ready articles.
Act as lead contact for third-party fabric sales partners, supported by the Raw Material Procurement Coordinator.
Fabric Bookings & Delivery Tracking:
Create a clear and accurate fabric and trim list at the start of each season, used from development to bulk bookings.
Ensure all trials, prototypes, salesman samples and bulk fabric lengths are booked and delivered on time.
Work with relevant stakeholders to ensure MasterList data is correct and bulk booking dates are met.
Collate end-of-season excess data and work with the Head of Product Development to deplete it in good time.
Quality Testing & Assurance:
Own risk assessments, including chemical testing, during collection development.
Follow up on physical and chemical testing, interpret reports and take corrective action where needed.
Proactively communicate Tiger of Sweden's chemical requirements to suppliers to prevent failures.
Participate in quality meetings together with the Head of Product Development.
Work closely with the Sustainability Manager to set sustainability guidelines for fibres and fabrics.
Data Integrity:
Own all fabric-related data, including technical details, pricing, orders, delivery status, lead times, MOQs, testing and leftovers.
Keep PLM/PDM systems updated with full accuracy at all times.
Maintain a clear data history by season and collection for reference and archiving.
Collect technical sheets from the start of fabric sourcing as the basis for quality testing.
SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS
Strong technical capability and fabric knowledge.
Ability to confidently influence and lead Design and Product teams on fabric matters.
Proven experience in critical path management for raw materials.
Ability to identify risks and recommend mitigating actions.
Strong understanding of fabric costing, balancing creativity and commerciality.
Expert ability to counter-source fabrics for lead time and price gains.
Experience managing supplier relationships.
Demonstrated experience working on site with mills.
Established contacts within a global fabric supply base.
Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
Confident working with cross-functional teams.
Fashion sensibility, with knowledge of the market and consumer behaviour.
TOOLS & SYSTEMS
PLM / PDM systems
Excel
The position is based in our Head office in Stockholm and is a full-time position. If this sounds like the perfect fit for you, please don't hesitate to apply by submitting a CV and personal letter in English.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Tiger of Sweden stands against any form of discrimination and strives to be an inclusive brand and workplace. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, race or disability, and recruitment is based purely on skills and experience.
