Freelance Senior Garment Technologist

The Hippie Shake is looking for an experienced freelance Senior Garment Technologist to join us on an ongoing basis, working approximately three days per week. Founded in 2016, The Hippie Shake creates heirloom-worthy pieces inspired by vintage fashion, music and festival style. This is a key role within our product development process. You’ll work closely with our founder and Creative Director, Naomi, taking ownership of garment technology from initial design ideas through sampling, fitting, production approval and shipment sign-off.

We’re looking for someone highly experienced, organised and confident working autonomously, who can manage multiple styles and suppliers while maintaining the fit, quality and consistency our customers expect.

About the role:

• At the beginning of each collection, you’ll work closely with Naomi to translate her designs and ideas into detailed technical packs, using our existing blocks, components and grading standards where appropriate.
• You’ll own the technical development process, managing samples, fittings, supplier communication and approvals through to bulk production and final shipment samples.
• We currently develop approximately 15 new styles per quarter across categories including dresses, tailoring, knitwear, denim and outerwear.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with Naomi at the start of each collection to understand the design, fit and construction requirements for each style.
• Create detailed technical packs, including construction details, measurement specifications and manufacturing requirements.
• Maintain and update tech packs throughout the sampling and development process.
• Create initial measurement specifications and graded size specifications using our established grading rules.
• Maintain consistency across our existing blocks, sizing standards and fit.
• Request development samples from suppliers and manage the sampling process from first sample through to production approval.
• Track samples and proactively chase suppliers to ensure development remains on schedule.
• Measure samples against specifications and identify fit, construction and quality issues.
• Organise and attend fittings in New Eltham, South East London, approximately every two weeks or as required.
• Book our fit model for fittings, using our existing agency relationship.
• Lead fittings and provide clear, detailed technical feedback.
• Produce and send comprehensive fit and sample comments to suppliers, including measurements, annotated imagery and construction amendments.
• Advise on garment construction, fabrics, trims and finishes throughout development.
• Work collaboratively with Naomi on areas such as trims, print placement, embroidery and embellishment execution.
• Communicate directly with our overseas suppliers on all technical and product development matters.
• Consider supplier MOQs during development and ensure proposed fabrics and materials are commercially viable for our order quantities.
• Maintain the development and production critical path, proactively highlighting delays, risks or issues to the wider team.
• Manage technical approvals required before bulk production, including pre-production and size-set samples where applicable.
• Review and approve shipment samples for every style before bulk orders are authorised to ship.
• Check shipment samples for measurements, fit, construction, colour, trims, labelling, packaging and overall quality.
• Review garment and fabric testing reports and advise on appropriate wash-care instructions.
• Work with Naomi to ensure garment labelling, fibre composition and relevant compliance requirements are correct.
• Advise on technical solutions when issues arise during production, working with the wider team to determine the best course of action.
• Review monthly customer return and product-quality feedback with Naomi and the wider team, using insights to inform future development and fit.

About you:

• Has significant experience working as a Garment Technologist or Senior Garment Technologist, ideally with at least 5 years in a similar role.
• Is highly confident owning the technical development process from initial concept through to bulk production.
• Has extensive experience conducting fittings and providing clear, commercially minded fit and construction feedback.
• Has excellent knowledge of garment construction, grading, sizing and manufacturing.
• Has strong knowledge of pattern cutting and can use this expertise to diagnose and resolve fit and construction issues.
• Is experienced creating detailed tech packs, measurement specifications and grading rules.
• Has worked across a broad range of womenswear categories.
• Is comfortable working directly with overseas factories and suppliers.
• Has a strong understanding of fabrics, trims, garment testing, wash care and product compliance.
• Has excellent attention to detail and a strong understanding of garment quality.
• Is highly organised and confident managing sampling and production timelines across multiple styles.
• Is proactive and comfortable flagging issues early rather than waiting for them to become problems.
• Can work autonomously and take ownership of their area while collaborating closely with a small team.
• Is confident working predominantly in Excel and email.
• Experience working with factories in India, Turkey and China would be useful, but isn’t essential.
• An interest in responsible fabric and production choices is also important to us.

Working with us:

• Commitment: Approximately 3 days per week, ongoing.
• Working pattern: Flexible freelance days.
• Location: Predominantly remote, with in-person fittings in New Eltham, SE9, approximately every two weeks or as required.
• Start date: Ideally within the next 6 weeks.
• Rate: Freelance day rate to be agreed based on experience.

You’ll work most closely with Naomi on product development and technical decisions, with support from the wider team on operational and production matters. The role requires a high level of autonomy, although final product and commercial decisions will sit with Naomi and the founders.

How to apply:

If this sounds like a good fit, we’d love to hear from you. Please send us your CV, a brief introduction outlining your relevant experience, your availability and your usual freelance day rate.