Senior Fabric Developer & Technologist in London

Part-time | Primrose Hill, London | UK and international travel

Reports to: Head of Design

Works closely with: Sahara's Founder, Creative Director, Production Manager

Fabric is at the very heart of Sahara's collections. It might be the soft structure of a washed linen, the movement of a fluid weave, the depth of a garment dye or the unexpected character of a beautifully textured surface. We are looking for an experienced Senior Fabric Developer & Technologist to help shape the material language of Sahara’s collections. This is an unusual role for a textile lover, whose creative instinct is matched by deep technical knowledge and sound commercial judgement. Someone who can recognise the potential in a cloth, understand how it will behave and guide its development from the first swatch to the finished garment.

Based in our light-filled design studio in the heart of Primrose Hill, this is a new role created for the growing business. You will report to the Head of Design and work closely with our Founder and Creative Director, becoming an influential and trusted voice within the creative team. This is not simply a sourcing role, nor is it solely a technical one. You will work at the point where imagination, construction, quality and commercial reality meet; developing and identifying fabrics that feel individual and unmistakably Sahara, while ensuring they perform beautifully and can be produced responsibly.

About Sahara: Sahara is an independent, family-run womenswear brand with an adventurous and globally inspired point of view. We create clothes for the individual rather than the crowd, bringing together expressive colour, distinctive texture, effortless silhouettes and carefully considered materials. Our relationships with makers, mills, independent artisans and manufacturing partners are central to the way we work. We believe in thoughtful production, enduring design and clothes that continue to bring pleasure long after a season has passed.

The role involves working collaboratively with the Head of Design, Founder, Creative Director and wider Design and Production teams. You will:

• Help define the seasonal fabric direction, translating creative concepts into distinctive, commercially viable fabric constructions.
• Research, source and develop fabrics with character, considering fibre, yarn, construction, weight, handle, drape, colour, surface, wash and finish.
• Create unique fibre blends, and work with mills to identify where manmade fibres may be able to be exchanged for natural ones, while keeping the costs commercially viable.
• Seek out new mills, makers, processes and material innovations while nurturing long-standing supplier relationships.
• Develop original or exclusive qualities where appropriate, creating clear briefs and guiding mills and suppliers through sampling, refinement and approval.
• Manage fabric developments from initial concept through to bulk production, including handlooms, lab dips, strike-offs, wash trials, test reports, sealing standards and bulk approvals.
• Assess fabric suitability and performance, interpreting testing relating to shrinkage, colourfastness, pilling, dimensional stability, care and composition.
• Resolve technical or quality issues calmly and constructively, protecting the original design intention wherever possible.
• Balance creativity with target cost, margin, minimum quantities, lead times, durability and production capability.
• Work closely with garment technologists, designers and production colleagues to ensure that each fabric is appropriate for its intended silhouette and end use.
• Maintain a clear, inspiring and well-organised fabric library, together with accurate seasonal development records and specifications.
• Contribute to Sahara’s responsible-materials approach by considering provenance, traceability, longevity and environmental impact throughout the development process.

Regular travel within the UK, Europe and occasionally internationally will be an integral part of the position. This will include visits to mills, suppliers, manufacturers, trade fairs and specialist makers, building relationships, discovering new possibilities and resolving developments at source.

About you: You may currently be working as a Fabric Developer, Fabric Technologist, Senior Fabric Technologist or Raw Materials Developer. Your exact title matters less than the breadth of your experience and the quality of your eye. You will bring:

• A strong track record in fabric development or fabric technology, ideally within premium, contemporary or design-led womenswear.
• Experience in working with garment dye, garment washes, artisan dying such as shibori and tie dye.
• Excellent knowledge of fibres, yarns, fabric construction, dyeing, printing, washing, finishing, testing and production.
• A passion for textiles, a love of artisan techniques such as ikats.
• A sensitive eye for colour, texture, handle, proportion and movement, working mainly with natural fibres.
• The curiosity to explore unfamiliar techniques and the judgement to know which ideas have genuine commercial potential.
• Experience developing distinctive fabrics within realistic volumes, prices and production timelines.
• Confidence communicating with mills and suppliers, including briefing, negotiating, challenging and finding practical solutions.
• An understanding of responsible, ethical sourcing, material traceability, and the relationship between quality and longevity.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage several seasonal developments against a critical path.
• A generous and collaborative approach, combined with the confidence to offer a clear point of view.
• The flexibility and enthusiasm to travel.

You will be comfortable working within an independent, founder-led business, where ideas are shared openly, decisions are made closely, and every person has the opportunity to make a visible contribution.

Working pattern: Part-time, In house; exact days to be agreed

Location: Sahara's design studio, Primrose Hill, London

Salary: Competitive and dependent on experience, pro rata