Technical Designer Job at 2.7 August Apparel, Inc. in Los Angeles

The Fit Technician role is key to developing and producing a top-quality product at a competitive cost for the company. Technical Designers should inspire innovation within construction/fit and work closely with product development to collectively make great apparel. This person must embody a balance of hard and soft skills needed to scale the department for growth: oversee grade standards, monitor vendor quality/consistency, fit cadence to ensure calendar dates are met and facilitate individual development plans within the team.

Duties / Responsibilities:

·        Guides and monitors the fit process to ensure “intended fit” is met.

·        Proactive approach to QC and evaluates potential QC issues pre-season and again at sample stages.

·        Attending and leading fit sessions to relay fit comments to our overseas factories and ensure it is accurately executed.

·        Involved in the final development stage of the products daily, checking the garments' fitting, measurements, and workmanship.

·        Communicates daily with domestic & international vendors to supplement sourcing strategy, enhancing respected relationships for combined growth.

·        Assesses vendor base performance related to fits to allocate appropriately based on strengths and quality.

·        Tracks fit evolutions from factories.

·        Works to improve fit and quality through review of customer’s comments, sales feedback, and understanding of competition.

·        Collaborate with the merchandising team to analyze return rate reports and enhance carry-over products if necessary.

·        Work closely with the Designer to ensure great-fitting products reflect the design intent.

·        Create and maintain technical packages in company standard format with data accuracy in a neat and organized manner.

·        Send tech packs to the corresponding vendors, including detailed garment measurements, construction, and BOM.

·        Responsible for sending clear fit comments with illustrations to factories from 1st fit through TOP.

·        Execute fit comments in a timely manner to ensure the fit sample review process stays on time with production timelines.

·        Spec garments before all fittings. Take and track notes to ensure final fit, quality, and construction meets brand quality standards.

·        Cross-examine the sample against style Tech Pack and previous fit samples to ensure comments have been corrected.

·        Perform accurate measurements to ensure size grading standards are within tolerance levels for specific fabric types.

·        Participate in fit sessions by fitting on a live model, recording comments, and communicating with the team and vendors.

·        Maintain a shared file of all fit tech packs for design and production.

·        Track and monitor execution to time-and-action calendar; record and track all packages, track fit and pre-production (PP) samples or other reference samples as required; keep an archive of fit samples.

·        Analyze fit, construction, and workmanship issues and accurately communicate all PP and TOP corrects to factories overseas.

Qualifications/ Skills:

·        Minimum 5 years of experience in fabrics and garment construction

·        Minimum 5 years of experience in technical design and product development

·        Minimum 5 years of experience in patterns.

·        Minimum 5 years of experience in communicating with vendors overseas is required.

·        Minimum 5 years of experience in Global markets regarding fit conversion, grade, and size charts.

·        Degree in tech design, pattern-making, and equivalent work experience.

·        Expertise in understanding fit, patterns, construction, measuring and evaluating samples, materials, workmanship, function, and production feasibility.

·        Knowledge of benchmarking fit and quality standards against other key competitors to ensure best-in-class fit and construction.

· Detail-oriented with experience prioritizing and managing multiple tasks efficiently.

·        Excellent Problem-solving skills.

·        Must be team-oriented, open to taking direction, and able to work well under pressure.

·        This role requires an experienced sourcing professional in the apparel industry with extensive knowledge of product development, production, and quality assurance.

·        Ability to develop & implement strategies according to plans, monitor progress, and make the necessary adjustments to achieve objectives.

·        Exceptional time management and organizational skills with the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced and changing environment. Strong planning skills with expertise in multitasking.

·        Computer Skills: Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop, especially Microsoft 365.

·        A strong written and verbal ability to establish trustworthy and durable relationships with suppliers and colleagues.