Are you ready for the next step in your career in Apparel Technical Design? Berkshire Blanket & Home Co is a fast-growing leader in soft-goods and comfort wear. We’re in search of a detail-oriented and highly motivated Associate Technical Designer, primarily supporting our exciting apparel lines, to join our growing team as soon as possible.
The Associate Technical Designer is a key player in Berkshire’s Homewear product development sampling organization and fit process. This position is responsible for ensuring fit, function, and quality of our product internally and with our customers per their specific standards.
The successful candidate will be responsible for the accuracy and quality of construction and measurements of internally fit styles as well as working with our customers and the styles we are establishing directly with them.
You will be setting up styles, establishing measurement specifications for new styles, utilizing existing customer specific fit blocks appropriately referenced for style/construction and fabrication, establishing or confirming grading, maintaining data and communication directly with the customers and our vendor team – all in a supportive and collaborative environment that is focused on effective support and career growth!
This is primarily an in-office M-F position with some seasonal/workload flexibility. Our office is currently located in Ware, MA but we’re excited to be moving to Worcester, MA in the Spring of 2025!
Please review the detailed responsibilities to see if you’d be a great “fit” for the position:
General
- Organize and file samples into approved fit sample library
- Work directly with Product Development on all development samples
- Support additional technical design projects and initiatives as needed
- Creates spreadsheets for analysis
Sample Review & Approval
- Independently requesting and tracking samples and maintains tracking document and reviewing in weekly team meetings
- Evaluates all fit samples internally to determine compliance with requested fit block/new specifications and construction
- Fit internally on fit forms and communicates technical fit comments to agents/vendors via written comments, visual images, construction sketches, provides accurate grading, pattern adjustments following company’s standard. Must be able to illustrate corrections through digital photos and sketches.
- Review and submit fit samples to customers per their specific processes
Measurement Specifications
- General daily task management setting up styles in the internal PLM system, maintaining integrity of data, established fit, construction, and safety standards by producing accurate specification packages including provided sketch details, base size specifications, grading, and construction based on our internal and customers set processes
- Setting up specification packages in Customer specific PLM systems
Communication & Collaboration
- Effectively collaborate with internal team members including Design, Product Development & Account Manager for the Homewear division to ensure accurate translation of design intent to finished product.
- Communication directly with overseas vendor through written and visual fit comments, sketches, and/or pattern corrections to provide clear feedback and guidance on sample corrections.
- Participate in customer fit sessions and provide technical input to optimize garment fit and construction.
- Processes customer comments internally with balance of team and vendor
Quality Control
- Assist Technical Design Team to establish fabrication and trim quality standards
- Review any production issues independently and with the team to identify the error against standards and approvals
Qualifications:
Education:
- Degree in Fashion Design, Technical Design, or a related field
- Or Relevant Experience in Technical Design within the apparel industry preferred, ideally in Sleepwear
Work Skills:
- Understanding of Garment Construction, and basic patternmaking, Fit, block specs and establishing of new Specs
- Excellent PC skills, including Microsoft Office Word/Excel/Outlook, Illustrator,
- Excellent measurement and spec writing skills.
- Ability to executes pattern suggestions, construction and fit changes with minimal supervision, collaborating with the team as needed
- Efficiently organize and prioritize workload to meet all deadlines for tech pack setups and fit comments
- Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems, preferred
Personal Skills:
- Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
- Self-starter and Self-Manager who prides themselves on their ability to work independently
- Multi-tasker who can proactively trouble shoot, problem solve, and prioritize your workload with minimal supervision
- Strong detail-orientation with organizational and problem-solving abilities.
- Effectively balances creativity with technical capability and logical thinking
- Collaborator who values integrity, innovation, respect, and excellence
- Able to adapt to a fast pace, constantly evolving environment
- Strong sense of urgency and flexibility holding a responsibility for deadlines
- Willingness to support the teams you are working with
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
Ability to Relocate:
- Ware, MA 01082: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Ware, MA 01082