General Information

Job Title: Product Developer – Jersey & Soft Accessories

Division: Product Development, Menswear RTW

Reporting To: Product Development Manager

Job Description

The Product Developer is responsible for leading the end-to-end product development of the Jersey & Soft Accessories categories, delivering luxury products that meet the brand’s quality expectations, commercial objectives and critical path timelines.

Working in close partnership with Design, Merchandising, Technical Development, Fabric Development and suppliers, the role manages the product lifecycle from concept through to production-ready samples. The Product Developer is responsible for developing technically robust products, creating accurate Bills of Materials

(BOMs), managing supplier communication, negotiating costs and ensuring products are delivered within target margins while maintaining the highest standards of craftsmanship and innovation.

The role requires regular collaboration with international suppliers, including travel where required, to monitor product development, resolve technical challenges and support successful seasonal launches.

Key Accountabilities

1. Lead the end-to-end product development of the Jersey & Soft Accessories categories, ensuring products are delivered on time, within budget and to the highest quality standards.
2. Build strong collaborative partnerships with Design, Merchandising, Quality & Technical, Fabric Development, and suppliers to successfully deliver seasonal collections.
3. Leverage market intelligence, competitor analysis, internal sales performance, customer insights and brand DNA to support the development of commercially successful and innovative collections.
4. Drive innovation through research and development, identifying new materials, construction techniques and manufacturing processes that elevate product quality and support the brand’s luxury positioning.
5. Manage supplier relationships throughout the development process, ensuring clear communication, timely follow-up and proactive resolution of technical or commercial challenges.
6. Negotiate product costs with suppliers to achieve seasonal margin targets whilst maintaining the integrity, quality and craftsmanship expected of the brand.
7. Create, maintain and continuously update accurate Bills of Materials (BOMs), specifications, costings and product data within the PLM system.
8. Work closely with the Quality, CSR and Sustainability teams to support responsible sourcing initiatives and contribute towards the brand’s sustainability objectives.
9. Support technical fit sessions by reviewing product construction, recommending engineering improvements and ensuring products achieve the required fit, quality and cost objectives.
10. Prepare and confidently present product developments, cost updates and category proposals at key seasonal review and sign-off meetings.
11. Manage prototype, development and salesman sample logistics, coordinating inbound and outbound shipments while ensuring samples are available to support key business milestones.
12. Support cross-functional and strategic projects throughout the season, collaborating with colleagues across Product Development and the wider business to deliver business priorities.

What You Need to Succeed

Experience

1. Minimum of 5 years’ experience within luxury apparel product development, preferably across Jersey and/or Soft Accessories.
2. Proven experience managing product development critical paths from concept through to production.
3. Strong understanding of garment construction, manufacturing techniques, costing principles and supplier management.
4. Experience working within PLM systems and maintaining detailed product information.

Skills & Behaviours

1. Excellent project management and organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
2. Commercially aware with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
3. Confident communicator with the ability to build collaborative relationships across Design, Merchandising, Technical, Quality and supplier partners.
4. Highly proactive with a positive, solutions-focused mindset and strong attention to detail.
5. Comfortable working under pressure whilst maintaining accuracy and delivering against deadlines.
6. Passion for luxury product, innovation and continuous improvement.
7. Degree-level qualification in Fashion, Product Development or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
8. Willingness to travel internationally to suppliers as business needs require.
9. Demonstrates openness, professionalism and collaboration, embracing new ideas while consistently role-modelling the Maison’s values.