Head of Garment Technology

Job Title: Head of Garment Technology

Department: Product

Reporting to: Product Director

Direct Reports: Senior Garment Tech & Junior Garment Tech

Contract type: Permanent, 40 hours per week

Location: Head office in Bermondsey. Hybrid working- 4 days per week in the office

About the Fold:

The Fold London is an award winning British luxury womenswear brand built on a singular, powerful idea: that the women who run boardrooms, lead teams and shape the world deserve clothes as ambitious as they are. Founded with a clear mission to dress professional women with intention, The Fold has built a loyal global community of customers who value craft, quality, and considered design over fast fashion.

With a multichannel presence - led by ecommerce and supported by our two London stores in Chelsea and the City – The Fold has built a loyal and growing customer base across the UK, US and internationally.

As we enter the next stage of growth, we are investing heavily in our international expansion, commercial capability, systems, customer insight and operational infrastructure. This role is a key part of that journey.

Role Overview:

The Head of Garment Technology is the guardian of product integrity. Our customer buys us for fit, cut and longevity, making technical excellence central to the brand proposition.

You will lead fit, sizing, construction, quality, technical compliance and ESG across all categories and routes to market. From block development and prototype approval through to bulk delivery, you will set and embed technical standards, ensuring consistency across both internal teams and suppliers.

As the most senior technical voice in the business, you will lead and develop the Garment Technology team while influencing product, sourcing and buying decisions as we continue to grow internationally.

Key Responsibilities:

Fit, Sizing & Technical Standards

• Own The Fold's fit identity, including block libraries, grade rules, size charts and construction standards
• Lead fit sessions across all categories and make final fit decisions where required
• Maintain technical standards, manuals and specifications across the business
• Define and own international sizing strategy and grading
• Act as the technical authority on garment construction, fabric performance and manufacturing feasibility

Product Quality & Returns Performance

• Own fit approval, sealing, inspection and AQL standards from prototype to bulk production
• Analyse returns and customer feedback, identifying root causes and driving improvements
• Deliver returns reduction initiatives in partnership with Buying and Merchandising
• Own testing programmes, performance standards, care instruction accuracy and product risk assessment
• Partner with E-commerce to improve fit guidance and product information
• Ensure all products meet quality, sustainability and brand standards

Supplier & Factory Management

• Lead technical onboarding and assessment of suppliers
• Build strong relationships with supplier technical teams to resolve issues quickly and effectively
• Drive first-time-right approvals, reducing fit rounds, development time and cost
• Support sourcing decisions through supplier capability assessment
• Ensure suppliers receive clear technical standards, specifications and fit feedback.

Critical Path & Process Ownership

• Own technical milestones across the critical path, working closely with Design, Buying and Production
• Plan technical workflow around seasonal calendars and factory shutdowns
• Drive process improvements that increase speed and accuracy
• Establish technical KPIs and reporting frameworks
• Ensure robust PLM discipline and technical record keeping

Compliance, ESG & Supply Chain

• Ensure compliance with UK, EU and US product, labelling and safety requirements
• Monitor emerging legislation and develop readiness plans for future compliance requirements
• Build and maintain product data and traceability processes
• Own social compliance across the factory base, including audits and corrective action plans
• Lead supplier onboarding from an ethical, social and technical perspective
• Maintain supply chain transparency and oversight
• Lead ESG strategy, sustainability roadmaps and reporting
• Ensure sustainability and ethical claims are fully substantiated
• Report compliance and ESG performance to the leadership team

Budget & Resource Ownership

• Manage departmental, testing, sampling and compliance budgets
• Control quality-related costs, including supplier claims and rework
• Build business cases for technical investment and supplier development
• Partner with Finance and Merchandising to ensure technical costs are reflected in commercial decisions

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead, develop and mentor the Garment Technology team
• Foster a high-performing culture built on accountability and excellence
• Partner closely with Design, Buying, Merchandising, Production and E-commerce
• Present technical strategy, risks and performance to senior leadership
• Balance priorities effectively in a fast-paced environment

About You

• Head of Technical, Technical Manager or Senior Garment Technologist experience within premium or luxury womenswear
• Expert knowledge of garment construction, pattern cutting, grading, tailoring and fabric behaviour
• Proven experience managing offshore suppliers, quality standards, audits and traceability
• Strong understanding of testing, AQL, risk assessment and product compliance.
• Experience leading ESG or sustainability initiatives within a product or supply chain function
• Proven track record of building and developing high-performing teams
• Experience managing departmental budgets and forecasting spend

Skills & Attributes

• Commercially minded with strong analytical capability
• Exceptional eye for fit, quality and finish
• Clear, decisive and confident communicator.
• Solutions-focused, resilient and able to perform under pressure
• Collaborative relationship builder with a willingness to travel internationally as required

Benefits & Perks:

• 33 days holiday (25 days + bank holidays) + option to buy more!
• Pension scheme & Salary sacrifice options
• Financial wellbeing platform
• £1,250 annual The Fold gift voucher
• Bike to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced maternity pay
• Friends & family discount – enjoy 50% off
• Monthly social events, plus summer & Christmas parties
• Summer Fridays
• Fully stocked snack cupboards, fresh fruit, plus great coffee & tea

Why The Fold

• A brand with a clear point of view and a fiercely loyal customer base — you will be selling something you can believe in
• Opportunity to play a highly visible role in a growing premium fashion brand
• Direct exposure to the leadership team and key strategic initiatives
• Broad and genuinely commercial remit with real influence on business performance
• Opportunity to help shape the next stage of international and operational growth
• Entrepreneurial environment with high levels of ownership and autonomy
• Collaborative culture with ambitious plans for the future
• Recent investment from a new owner. The brand is at a new chapter of growth across both existing and new channels, and operates internationally.

Diversity and Inclusion

We promote a diverse and inclusive workplace which harnesses the benefits of the diversity of our team and strives to represent the communities in which we live and work. Our vision is to establish an environment that attracts individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and talents, empowering them to contribute their best and authentic selves. We welcome and encourage applications from those who share our commitment to fostering this inclusive and authentic work culture.