Technical Fabric Designer

POSITION SUMMARY

The Mill Technical Design team develops woven fabrics to be produced in the PWM Mills for all Divisions' seasonal lines, custom orders, branded collaborations, and R&D initiatives. A Technical Fabric Designer creates Dobby and/or Jacquard designs as needed, while adhering to seasonal development calendars, preparing production layouts, and tracking fabrics for sampling and bulk production.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB

• Create Dobby and/or Jacquard woven designs for all Divisions' seasonal needs and custom developments
• Translate final design concepts into production mill-ready design files
• Produce technical CADs for pattern review and selection
• Design new fabric patterns and woven constructions
• Adapt color forecast/direction to maintain appropriate seasonal palette and color standard information
• Approve first production yardage and ensure quality standards are distributed with a high degree of accuracy
• Collaborate with PWM Mills on fabric R&D innovations and experiments
• Aid in maintaining and updating PWM Design Archive
• Present designs at weekly meetings with Divisional partners
• Adhere to the seasonal development calendars of each Division, ensuring fabric orders are placed correctly and on time
• Submit layouts for Mill developments
• Partner with Production and Planning to order approved fabrics
• Support the Mill Technical Design Department in record keeping
• Weave handlooms as required for color and/or fabric construction
• Work closely with the PWM mills on pattern execution, tracking, and deliveries

CORE SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES REQUIRED FOR THE POSITION

• Knowledge of fabric design, color theory, and textile manufacturing
• Creative skills and aesthetics
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional designers and merchandisers
• Confidence to make decisions independently during the design process
• Strong organization and time management practices in an environment of frequent interruptions
• Ability to communicate clearly and work with others in a team setting
• Ability to work under pressure with a high degree of accuracy
• Adaptability to changing processes and priorities in a fast-paced environment

SYSTEM & SOFTWARE QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with the following:
  • NedGraphics
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Microsoft: Excel, Outlook, and Word

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (minimum requirements)

• Bachelor's Degree in Textile Design, Textile Engineering, or Textile Chemistry/Science or equivalent work experience required
• 1-3 years of professional experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to create strong working relationships with customers, designers, and manufacturers
• Weaving experience (mechanical and CAD format)
• Above average color acuity (measured by Farnsworth Color Vision Test)
• Proficiency in math

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

• Office environment with time also spent in textile production mills
• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, bend, and move about the office and production mill
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds
• Unpacking boxes, manipulating fabric rolls, cutting fabric yardage
• 70-80% of workday is spent seated at desk/computer
• We celebrate an in-office-first policy with some hybrid flexibility.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• This position may require travel between multiple worksites around the Portland metro area up to 5% of the time
• Occasional travel for trend inspiration and development opportunities