Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Knitting Specialist Intern

🎯 Role Definition

As a Knitting Specialist Intern, you will be an integral part of our Product Development and Design teams, providing crucial support in the end-to-end creation of our knitwear collections. This is a unique learning opportunity to gain practical experience in a fast-paced fashion environment, focusing specifically on the technical and creative aspects of knit apparel. You will work closely with seasoned designers and technical experts, contributing to the development process from initial concept and yarn selection through to final sample approval. This role is designed for a proactive and detail-obsessed individual with a foundational knowledge of knitwear and a strong desire to build a career in this specialized field.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Fashion Design or Textile Science Student
Recent Graduate from an Apparel Development Program
Enthusiast with a strong personal portfolio in knitting/knitwear design

Advancement To:

Assistant/Associate Knitwear Designer
Knitwear Technical Designer
Textile Developer (Knits)

Lateral Moves:

Product Development Coordinator
Materials Sourcing Assistant

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Assist in the creation and meticulous maintenance of comprehensive technical packages (tech packs) for all knitwear styles, ensuring all details from measurements to construction are accurately documented.
Support the management and organization of the physical and digital yarn and knit swatch library, ensuring all materials are properly cataloged for easy reference.
Participate in daily communication with overseas and domestic factories and mills regarding yarn development, knitdown submissions, and proto sample status.
Diligently track the progress of all development samples, from initial knitdowns to finished garments, ensuring they align with the seasonal calendar and deadlines.
Prepare essential materials, including trend boards, yarn cards, and sample presentations, for key design, development, and merchandising meetings.
Support the Technical Design team during knitwear fittings by taking detailed notes, capturing photos, and helping to articulate fit and construction comments.
Conduct thorough market and trend research to identify new yarn qualities, innovative stitch techniques, and emerging silhouettes in the knitwear category.
Create clear and precise digital knitwear swatches, stitch layouts, and technical flats using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
Review incoming lab dips, yarn strike-offs, and bulk yarn submissions against established color standards, providing clear comments for any revisions.
Meticulously measure and evaluate all incoming knitwear samples against technical specifications, flagging any discrepancies in measurement, quality, or construction.
Aid in the development and ongoing updates of the Bill of Materials (BOMs) for each knitwear style, ensuring all components are listed accurately.
Collaborate with the design team to assess the technical feasibility of new knitwear concepts, offering insights into potential construction or yarn limitations.
Maintain highly organized and clear records of all development stages, including sample comments, vendor communication, and approval tracking within our PLM system.
Prepare and dispatch sample packages to vendors, partners, and other internal teams, ensuring all contents are correct and properly documented.
Actively participate in brainstorming sessions for new collection themes, contributing fresh ideas for knit applications and design details.
Update and maintain the seasonal development Work-in-Progress (WIP) report, providing real-time visibility on the status of all knitwear styles.
Analyze competitor knitwear products to provide insightful feedback on construction techniques, material quality, and market pricing.
Assist in developing detailed garment construction callouts and diagrams to ensure clarity for manufacturing partners.
Support the hand-off process from the design team to technical design and production, ensuring all necessary information is seamlessly transferred.
Help proofread and verify all information on garment care labels, content labels, and product packaging to ensure compliance and accuracy for knit items.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis related to sample approval rates and vendor performance.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy by suggesting improvements for tracking knitwear development in our PLM system.
Collaborate with cross-functional partners like merchandising and planning to translate product needs into technical development requirements.
Participate in weekly team meetings and follow agile principles for seasonal collection planning and execution.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

High proficiency in Adobe Illustrator for creating detailed technical sketches (flats) and stitch layouts.
Strong foundational understanding of different knit structures (e.g., jersey, rib, jacquard, intarsia) and machine gauges.
Knowledge of various yarn types, fiber contents (natural and synthetic), and their inherent properties and performance characteristics.
Familiarity with the components of a technical package (tech pack) and the ability to read and interpret specification sheets.
Basic understanding of garment construction, finishing techniques, and pattern-making principles as they apply to knitwear.
Competency in the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel for tracking development and creating reports.
Experience with a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system is a significant plus.
Hands-on experience with hand or machine knitting is highly desirable.

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy in all tasks, from measuring garments to data entry.
Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects in a deadline-driven environment.
Clear, professional, and effective written and verbal communication skills.
A proactive, resourceful, and problem-solving mindset with an enthusiastic desire to learn and grow.
A collaborative spirit and the ability to work effectively as part of a dynamic, cross-functional team.
A strong aesthetic sensibility and a genuine passion for fashion, specifically within the knitwear market.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Currently pursuing or recently completed a Bachelor’s degree.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Fashion Design
Textile Science / Textile Development
Apparel Design and Merchandising

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0-1 years of experience gained through prior internships, relevant coursework, or personal projects.

Preferred:

Previous internship experience within a fashion brand's design, technical design, or product development department is highly desirable. A personal portfolio that showcases knitwear-related projects, technical sketches, or a demonstrated understanding of knit construction will be a significant advantage.