Fabric Merchandiser

Job Description:

Key Responsibilities of Fabric Merchandiser:-

Fabric Sourcing & Development: Source suitable fabrics according to buyer requirements, garment specifications, quality standards, and target prices.
Supplier Coordination: Develop and maintain strong relationships with fabric mills, textile suppliers, dyeing units, printing units, and processing houses.
Price Negotiation: Negotiate fabric prices, minimum order quantities (MOQs), lead times, payment terms, and other commercial conditions with suppliers.
Fabric Knowledge: Possess sound knowledge of woven and knitted fabrics, including cotton, polyester, viscose, blends, denim, and other apparel fabrics.
Fabric Development: Coordinate fabric sampling, lab dips, strike-offs, handloom samples, bulk swatches, and fabric approvals as per buyer requirements.
Technical Understanding: Understand fabric composition, GSM, construction, width, shrinkage, colour fastness, testing parameters, and finishing requirements.
Order Management: Track fabric orders from development and sampling through bulk production, inspection, dispatch, and delivery.
Production Coordination: Coordinate with merchandising, production, quality, and planning teams to ensure fabric availability as per the production schedule.
Quality Assurance: Ensure fabrics meet buyer-approved standards and specifications; coordinate fabric inspections, testing, and corrective actions for quality issues.
Costing & Consumption: Support garment costing by providing accurate fabric prices, consumption details, wastage calculations, and related cost inputs.
Documentation: Maintain fabric purchase orders, supplier quotations, costing sheets, approval records, test reports, and delivery trackers.
Delivery Follow-up: Monitor supplier commitments, identify potential delays, and take timely action to avoid production disruptions and shipment delays.
Problem Resolution: Handle fabric shortages, shade variations, quality rejections, excess or short supplies, and other sourcing-related issues.
Market Research: Keep updated on fabric market trends, price fluctuations, new developments, and alternative sourcing opportunities.
Required Qualifications & Skills

Graduate in Textile Technology, Textile Engineering, Apparel Manufacturing, or a related field; relevant industry experience may also be considered.
3–6 years of relevant experience in fabric merchandising, fabric sourcing, or textile procurement, preferably with a garment export house or manufacturing company.
Strong understanding of fabric types, textile processes, dyeing, printing, finishing, and garment manufacturing requirements.
Experience in supplier management, commercial negotiation, and fabric cost analysis.
Good coordination, communication, follow-up, and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency in MS Excel and preparation of reports, costing sheets, and fabric tracking records.
Ability to manage multiple developments and bulk orders within tight deadlines.
Knowledge of buyer compliance requirements and fabric testing standards will be an added advantage.