Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Textile Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

A Textile Coordinator is the linchpin of the apparel product lifecycle, acting as the critical link between creative design and tangible production. At its core, this role is responsible for the sourcing, development, and management of all raw materials—primarily fabrics and trims. You are the go-to expert for everything textile-related, ensuring that materials not only align with the designer's vision but also meet stringent quality, cost, and timeline requirements. This position requires a unique blend of creative sensibility, technical knowledge, and meticulous project management skills to navigate the complex global supply chain and bring a collection to life from the fiber up.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Production Assistant
Sourcing Assistant
Assistant Technical Designer
Showroom Coordinator

Advancement To:

Senior Textile Coordinator
Fabric Sourcing Manager
Product Development Manager
Raw Materials Manager

Lateral Moves:

Product Developer
Supply Chain Coordinator
Quality Assurance Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Manage the end-to-end fabric development and approval process, from initial concept and sourcing through to bulk production, ensuring alignment with the seasonal design vision and production calendar.
Collaborate intimately with the Design team to research market trends and source new textiles, trims, and materials that meet specific aesthetic, performance, and price point criteria.
Initiate, track, and manage all raw material sample requests, including FDS (Fabric Data Sheets), handlooms, and strike-offs, ensuring timely delivery for design reviews and proto sampling.
Build, organize, and maintain a comprehensive physical and digital fabric library, meticulously cataloging swatches with all corresponding technical specifications, supplier data, and pricing.
Negotiate fabric pricing, lead times, and minimum order quantities (MOQs) with a global network of mills and suppliers to achieve margin targets and secure production capacity.
Issue and meticulously manage purchase orders for all sample and bulk raw materials, guaranteeing accuracy in specifications, quantities, pricing, and delivery schedules.
Oversee the complete lab dip, strike-off, and handloom approval process, providing clear, concise, and timely feedback to vendors to ensure perfect color and print execution.
Review and approve all bulk fabric submissions against established quality standards, rigorously checking for consistency in color, weight, hand-feel, and identifying any potential defects.
Serve as the primary point of contact and communication hub for all fabric-related inquiries from internal teams (Design, Product Development, Production) and external partners.
Develop and maintain detailed Work in Progress (WIP) reports and tracking charts for all raw materials, providing regular status updates to cross-functional teams to ensure visibility.
Coordinate and manage all fabric testing procedures with third-party laboratories, ensuring materials comply with company performance standards and industry regulations (e.g., colorfastness, shrinkage).
Proactively identify and resolve any fabric quality, performance, or delivery issues that arise during the production cycle, collaborating with suppliers for swift and effective solutions.
Diligently input and maintain all raw material data, including article numbers, costs, and content, within the company’s PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) or ERP system.
Conduct ongoing research to stay current on textile industry trends, material innovations, new sustainable technologies, and finishing techniques to inspire the design and development teams.
Partner with Design and Merchandising to support the creation of seasonal material concepts and color palettes, providing technical insights and sourcing options.

Secondary Functions

Prepare and dispatch fabric development packages and sample submits to overseas factories, ensuring all necessary documentation and headers are accurately included.
Assist in the creation and maintenance of detailed Bills of Materials (BOMs), ensuring all raw material information is accurate for costing and production hand-offs.
Participate in key product meetings, including proto reviews and fittings, to provide expert feedback on fabric performance, drape, and its suitability for specific garment silhouettes.
Monitor raw material inventory levels in collaboration with the production team to support ongoing manufacturing needs and mitigate the risk of excess stock.
Cultivate and maintain strong, collaborative, and long-term relationships with a diverse portfolio of international textile mills, agents, and suppliers.
Contribute to corporate sustainability initiatives by actively sourcing and championing eco-friendly materials and promoting responsible manufacturing practices throughout the supply chain.
Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Advanced Fabric Knowledge: A deep and technical understanding of fabric constructions (wovens, knits), fiber types, dyeing, printing, and finishing processes.
PLM/ERP Proficiency: Hands-on experience and proficiency in using Product Lifecycle Management (e.g., Centric, FlexPLM) or ERP software to manage product data.
Color Acuity: A sharp, discerning eye for color with the ability to accurately evaluate lab dips and print strike-offs against standards, often using a light box.
MS Office Expertise: Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel are crucial for creating and managing complex tracking charts, WIP reports, and cost analyses.
Supply Chain Fundamentals: Solid knowledge of the apparel production calendar, raw material purchasing cycles, logistics, and incoterms.
Costing and Negotiation: Proven ability to analyze fabric costs, understand pricing structures, and confidently negotiate terms with global suppliers.

Soft Skills

Exceptional Communication: Clear, professional, and articulate communication skills (both written and verbal) are essential for effective collaboration with diverse, global teams.
Meticulous Organization: Superior organizational and time-management abilities, with a demonstrated capacity to prioritize and manage multiple complex projects in a fast-paced environment.
Resourceful Problem-Solving: A proactive and solutions-oriented mindset to anticipate challenges and troubleshoot issues related to quality, delivery, or development.
High Attention to Detail: An unwavering focus on accuracy when managing data, reviewing samples, issuing purchase orders, and maintaining records.
Collaborative Spirit: A natural team player who thrives on building strong, positive, and productive relationships with cross-functional partners and external vendors.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent professional experience in a directly related field.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s Degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Textile Science or Textile Development
Fashion Merchandising or Management
Apparel Production or Manufacturing
Product Development

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2-5 years of direct experience in textile sourcing, fabric development, or a closely related raw materials role within the apparel or home goods industry.

Preferred:

Experience working for a brand with a structured product development calendar and global supply chain. Familiarity with a specific product category (e.g., activewear, denim, knitwear) is often highly valued.