Senior Manager - Fabric Merchandising

Reports to: Founder
Works closely with: Design, Garment Merchandising, PPC, QA/QC, Farm/Yarn teams, Accounts

Core Purpose of the Role

To own the entire fabric side of the business – from translating buyer briefs into fabric developments, through sourcing and sampling, to bulk fabric readiness – ensuring right quality, right cost, right delivery, aligned with Oshadi’s regenerative and high-end positioning.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

1. Fabric Development & Technical Specifications

• Translate buyer / design briefs into clear fabric specifications

(fiber content, count, construction, EPI/PPI, weave/knit structure, GSM, width, finishes, dyeing/printing route).

• Develop new base qualities and seasonal fabric stories (voiles, poplins, denims, knits, jacquards, etc.) suitable for high-end customers.
• Coordinate bit looms, strike-offs, lab dips, sample yardage with internal & external partners.
• Maintain a structured fabric library:
• Approved qualities per client
• Colour cards, test reports, handfeel references.

2. Sourcing & Vendor Management

• Identify, onboard and manage a reliable network of weavers, knitters, dyers, printers, finishers and labs in line with GOTS / organic / regenerative requirements where applicable.
• Negotiate prices, lead times, MOQs and payment terms with all fabric vendors and processors.
• Monitor vendor performance on:
• Quality
• On-time delivery
• Response time / flexibility
• Take corrective action with underperforming vendors; recommend vendor rationalisation where needed.

3. Fabric Costing & Margin Management

• Prepare accurate fabric costings for all developments and bulk programmes:
• Yarn cost, conversion charges, processing (dye/print/finish), testing, wastage and overhead allocation.
• Work with IE / Costing / Accounts to ensure costing logic is consistent and transparent across clients and seasons.
• Support garment merchandising by providing:
• Final fabric rates
• Cost implication of design changes (width change, weave change, print vs dye).
• Highlight margin risks (e.g. yarn price spikes, extra processes, low yields) early and propose mitigation options.

4. Order Tracking, T&A & Coordination

• Create and maintain T&A calendars for all fabric developments and bulk fabric orders per buyer/style.
• Ensure critical path milestones are tracked and met:
• Bit loom / strike-off / lab-dip approval
• Sample yardage readiness
• Bulk greige-in, processing-in, finishing-out, inspection, dispatch to garmenting.
• Coordinate closely with PPC and Garment Merchandising so that fabric readiness aligns with cutting and production start dates.
• Proactively flag delays or risks with clear options (expedite, alternate vendor, alternate process).

5. Quality, Testing & Compliance

• Define fabric quality standards per buyer/season (shrinkage, torque, colour fastness, seam slippage, pilling, etc.).
• Plan and coordinate testing with labs (SGS / BV / in-house lab) and ensure reports meet buyer requirements.
• Work with QC to ensure:
• Fabric inspection systems (4-point / 10-point) are implemented and recorded.
• Clear disposition of rejects/seconds and root cause analysis with vendors.
• Ensure all fabrics meet certification / traceability needs (GOTS, organic, regenerative, traceability docs, test reports).

6. Buyer / Client Communication (Fabric Side)

• Act as the primary fabric contact for key buyers and their teams (design, PD, merchandising).
• Share:
• Swatches, hangers, strike-offs, lab dips and updated colourways.
• Technical clarifications and testing updates.
• Participate in range development discussions and proactively suggest suitable Oshadi fabrics and finishes for buyer’s silhouettes.
• Manage revision cycles (R1, R2 etc.) and maintain clear documentation of what has been approved by whom and when.

7. Data, Systems & Reporting

• Maintain updated tracking sheets / ERP data for:
• All ongoing fabric developments
• Bulk fabric orders and their status
• Vendor-wise price lists and lead times.
• Generate weekly fabric status reports for management:
• Key achievements
• Delayed items and reasons
• Decisions/support required from management.
• Work with accounts to verify fabric supplier bills, ensure rates & quantities match POs and approvals.

8. Process Improvement & Team Management

• Document and refine SOPs for fabric development and sourcing, including:
• New quality development flow
• Strike-off / lab-dip approval process
• Bulk ordering and inspection.
• Train and mentor any junior merchandisers / assistants in fabric basics, communication standards and data discipline.
• Continuously look for ways to:
• Reduce development lead times
• Improve first-time approval rates
• Lower cost without compromising quality or ethics.

9. Alignment with Regenerative / Seed-to-Sew Vision

• Work with farm/yarn teams to prioritise in-house regenerative yarns where possible.
• Support story-telling needs by keeping clean traceability from farm → yarn → fabric for key programmes.
• Ensure sourcing decisions support long-term relationships and ethical production, not just short-term price gains.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From ₹70,000.00 per month

Work Location: In person