Raw Materials Developer, Accessories

OVERVIEW

The Raw Material Developer – Accessories is responsible for developing, engineering, and commercializing raw materials for accessories categories such as bags, hats, socks, belts, soft accessories, packaging-related trims, and small goods. This role ensures materials meet brand design intent, quality, performance, cost, sustainability, and manufacturability standards. The position partners closely with Design, Product Development, Sourcing, Quality, and suppliers to bring innovative and scalable materials to market on time.

RESPONSIBILITIES  

Material Development

• Lead raw material development from concept through commercialization for accessories categories.
• Source and evaluate new materials including wovens, knits, leather, synthetic leather, coated fabrics, webbings, mesh, foams, linings, fillings, labels, trims, hardware, and specialty components.
• Translate design intent into technical material requirements including handfeel, appearance, structure, durability, weight, functionality, and finish.

Technical Development and Testing

• Establish material specifications and validate against performance requirements such as abrasion, colorfastness, tensile and tear strength, pilling, crocking, coating adhesion, dimensional stability, wash durability, and corrosion resistance for hardware where applicable.
• Partner with Quality and Product Integrity teams to ensure materials meet testing, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Troubleshoot raw material issues such as delamination, cracking, peeling, color migration, tarnishing, shrinkage, distortion, coating failure, odor, or inconsistency in finish.
• Support color approval and bulk consistency across soft materials, trims, and hardware finishes.

Cost Management

• Own raw material cost targets and partner with suppliers to negotiate pricing, MOQs, and feasible alternatives without compromising brand intent.
• Support should-cost thinking across material and trim packages, identifying cost drivers and optimization opportunities.
• Ensure on-time raw material readiness against seasonal calendars and development milestones.

Supplier and Cross-Functional Management

• Build and maintain relationships with mills, tanneries, trim suppliers, hardware vendors, coating and finish suppliers, and finished goods manufacturers.
• Assess supplier capability and align on standards for quality, compliance, traceability, and execution.
• Communicate material options, risks, and trade-offs clearly to internal teams, balancing aesthetic, cost, speed, and performance.
• Maintain development trackers, approval logs, and issue-resolution follow-up with suppliers and cross-functional teams.

Systems and Documentation

• Create and maintain complete documentation including material specifications, BOM details, test reports, compliance certificates, TDS and MSDS where needed, finish references, and approval history.
• Ensure PLM or equivalent systems are accurate for material codes, attributes, supplier information, lead times, pricing, and approval status.
• Support creation of material standards and playbooks for core accessory platforms and carryover materials.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Textile Engineering, Materials Science, Industrial Design, Product Development, Fashion Merchandising, or related field, or equivalent experience preferred.
• 4+ years of raw material development experience in accessories, handbags, soft goods, trims, or related product categories.
• Strong understanding of soft materials, trims, and hardware used in accessories construction.
• Experience with testing requirements and common failure modes relevant to accessories materials.
• Experience managing suppliers and commercialization across multiple vendors and regions.
• Proficiency in PLM, Excel, and development tracking tools.
• Strong technical problem-solving and material judgment.
• Ability to balance aesthetics, quality, cost, and manufacturability.
• Clear and effective communication across technical and non-technical teams.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple development timelines.
• Collaborative mindset with strong supplier and stakeholder management skills.
• Continuous improvement orientation with the ability to build standards and scalable processes.
• Experience with leather and alternative leather developments.
• Knowledge of trim and hardware development including plating, coating, and finish durability.
• Familiarity with sustainability initiatives such as recycled content, bio-based materials, traceability, and certification management.
• Understanding of chemical compliance frameworks and restricted substances relevant to accessories materials and finishes.

The base salary range for this position is $90,000-$110,000 per year which represents the current range for the base salary for this exempt position. Please note that actual salaries will vary based on factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. As such, on occasion and when applicable, there is the possibility that the final, agreed-upon base salary may be outside of the upper end of the range. Please also note the range listed is just one component of the company’s total rewards package for exempt employees. Other rewards may include performance bonuses, long term incentives, a PTO policy, and many other progressive benefits.