We are looking for a Garment and Fabric Technologist to join Team OB in our Support Office.
As the Garment & Fabric Technologist for multi-product womenswear, you will provide expertise for the Buying and Design teams from initial sample through to production -including garment fitting, product construction and component/fabric innovation.
You will work closely with our suppliers demonstrating your Product & Fabric knowledge to ensure they have the technical capability to successfully deliver the product on time and to the required Oliver Bonas standard.
Our Support Office is based in Tolworth, near Chessington, only a 30-minute journey from London Waterloo. We offer hybrid working with a split of 3 days in the office and 2 days home working per week, and are open to having conversations about working flexibly.
A bit about us …
At Oliver Bonas (OB), our values of Work Hard, Play Hard & Be Kind are integral to everything we do. Collaboration, imagination, curiosity, and teamwork are key to our success, and everyone has their part to play in making OB a special place to work.
Having fun is key, and a playful and positive approach creates an optimistic environment. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we are serious about what we do.
Our team knows their stuff. They’re confident and creative and unafraid to challenge convention to find solutions, taking accountability for their actions, but always with kindness and humility.
More about the role …
An OB Garment and Fabric Technologist will:
- Organise and attend two fit meetings per week
- Create and maintain technical packs for factories as appropriate
- Take responsibility for the fit and comfort of own brand garments from your specific product area’s
- Assist the Design team in overcoming fit issues, ensuring styling and design are not compromised
- Issue and approve graded specifications
- Develop new fits and blocks for new ranges
- Create, standardise, maintain and issue workbook templates for suppliers to use when required
- Refer to and up-date an internet data base on a regular basis
- Issue approvals and comments on both base and bulk fabrics
- Approve bulk components, test reports, care instructions and packaging for production
- Provide approvals on all fabric ensuring nothing is delay on the critical path
- Understand the manufacturing processes and sound knowledge of fabric properties and usage as well as garment construction
- Co-ordinate the testing of fabrics and garments across all products to ensure that products meet all company quality standards
- Request, Chasing & approve material certificates and maintaining and updating inhouse system
- Write accurate and detailed fit comments that are clearly communicated to the manufacturers
- Oversee all technical amendments
Bonas Benefits:
- Generous employee discount up to 50% off all OB products
- Free access to our 24 hour employee assistance programme with Care First – offering financial, emotional and vocational support
- Flexible holiday – 30 Days (including bank holidays) – increasing to 35 days with length of service
- Annual discretionary profit related bonus scheme
- Free membership for our Westfield Health Cash Plan or Private Medical
- Auto-enrolment into our pension plan
- Free access to our onsite gym
- Cycle to work scheme
- Refer a Friend incentive
- Quarterly free lunch
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Voice network and EDI team
- Mental Health First Aider support
- Education and support throughout Looop eLearning platform
What we look for:
- A technically relevant qualification
- Knowledge and experience in Fabric testing both wovens & jersey is essential.
- Knowledge about Sustainable fibres, fabrics & certification will be a bonus.
- Experience in fitting and sealing womenswear is essential.
- Knowledge of pattern making and manufacturing is essential
- Sound knowledge of garment construction and grading is essential
- Good planning and organising skills
- Competent knowledge of Excel and Microsoft Office
- Adaptable to change
- Good problem solving and communication skills
- Excellent attention to detail
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at OB
At Oliver Bonas, our promise is to do our bit to make living a joyful experience and give cause for optimism. This promise is central to our work in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). To bring joy to others, we must first ensure everyone at OB feels valued, included and most importantly, can be themselves at work.
It is important to us that our brand reflects wider society and the communities in which we operate. As a result, we welcome all eligible applicants for this role however we are particularly interested in speaking to eligible candidates from the Black, Asian & Mixed Heritage communities.
Oliver Bonas is a Disability Confident Committed employer under the Disability Confident employer scheme.
To read more about our ED&I commitments, head over to the EDI page on our website: https://www.oliverbonas.com/meet-the-team/diversity