Product Development Lead - Innovation (Apparel)
Our client is an international lifestyle fashion brand with a regional sourcing and product development hub in Hong Kong. They are seeking an experienced Product Development Lead - Innovation (Apparel) to support the development of men's and women's apparel collections across knit and woven categories, partnering closely with design, sourcing, and manufacturing teams throughout Asia.
Job Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end product development for men's and women's knit and woven apparel, from initial design handover through sample approval and production readiness.
- Translate design concepts into detailed technical packages, including garment specifications, construction details, BOMs, trims, artwork, and colorways.
- Drive the development of performance and lifestyle fabrics, trims, prints, washes, and embellishments in collaboration with mills, vendors, and suppliers.
- Manage seasonal development calendars and ensure all milestones are achieved on time.
- Partner with Design, Merchandising, Technical Design, and Sourcing teams to ensure product execution aligns with aesthetic, quality, costing, and commercial objectives.
- Review prototypes, fit samples, pre-production samples, and development approvals, providing technical feedback and recommendations.
- Coordinate directly with factories across China and Southeast Asia to resolve construction, fit, manufacturing, and timeline challenges.
- Support fabric and trim sourcing initiatives, identifying innovative materials and value-engineering opportunities.
- Analyze costing and recommend alternatives to achieve margin targets while maintaining product integrity and brand standards.
- Ensure product specifications, quality requirements, compliance standards, and testing protocols are clearly communicated throughout the development process.
- Monitor industry trends, competitor products, fabric innovations, and manufacturing advancements to drive continuous improvement.
Job Requirements
- Disploma or Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Textile Engineering or a related discipline.
- 8+ years of experience in apparel product development for knit and woven categories within lifestyle, sportswear, activewear, fashion, or outdoor brands.
- Strong technical knowledge of garment construction, pattern making, fit, fabrics, trims, washes, printing, and embellishment techniques.
- Proven experience creating and managing technical packs and development documentation.
- Experience working directly with fabric mills, trim suppliers, and garment manufacturers across Asia.
- Strong understanding of apparel costing, critical path management, and commercialization processes.
- Ability to manage multiple seasonal calendars simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to collaborate across global teams.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and PLM systems.
- Fluency of English, Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese is requird.
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