Manager, R&D, Knitwear

Rag & Bone•New York, NY

11h

About The Position

At Rag & Bone, product starts with fabric. We are looking for a Knitwear R&D Manager to lead the research, development, and sourcing of materials across our women’s, men’s and outlet collections. This role sits at the intersection of design, innovation, and production— working closely with Design, Product Development and Production to build distinctive fabrics that define the character of our product, and reports into the Director of Knitwear Product Development. You will be responsible for identifying new materials, developing proprietary fabric programs with mills, and ensuring fabrics meet our standards for quality, performance, and authenticity. The ideal candidate brings deep textile knowledge, strong mill relationships, and a sharp eye for materials that elevate modern knitwear.

Responsibilities

Drive Fabric Innovation
Lead the research and development of fabrics across Cut and Sew Knits.
Support Sweaters Product Development team by identifying new yarns, constructions, finishes, and technologies that push our product forward.
Develop exclusive fabric programs in partnership with global mills.
Collaborate on seasonal fabric direction and innovation opportunities with design and merchandising teams.
Build and Manage Supplier Partnerships
Maintain strong relationships with global textile mills and suppliers.
Identify new mill partners that support innovation, quality, and cost targets.
Manage development pricing, minimums, and lead times.
Execute Seasonal Development
Manage fabric development across the seasonal calendar from concept through bulk approval.
Review and approve lab dips, strike-offs, handlooms, and bulk fabric submissions.
Maintain fabric tracking within PLM and ensure development milestones are met.
Partner Cross-Functionally
Work closely with Design and Merchandising to translate creative direction into commercially viable fabrics.
Support Product Development and Production to ensure fabrics meet manufacturing and performance requirements.
Ensure Quality and Performance
Evaluate fabric durability, wash performance, stretch recovery, and colorfastness.
Partner with testing and quality teams to ensure all fabrics meet internal standards and regulatory requirements.
Troubleshoot fabric issues during development and production.
Drive Strategic Fabric Direction
Maintain and evolve the seasonal fabric library and archive.
Track emerging textile technologies, sustainable materials, and industry innovations.
Contribute to long-term material strategies that support the growth of the business