Role & responsibilities The Product Merchandiser Knitwear (Kidswear) is responsible for managing the complete product development and merchandising process for children's knitted garments, from initial concept and sampling through final approval and production.

The role involves close coordination with buyers, designers, technical teams, suppliers, factories, and internal departments to ensure products are developed according to customer requirements, approved quality standards, target costs, safety requirements, and delivery timelines.

The position requires strong knowledge of kidswear knitwear, fabrics, garment construction, trims, product safety, fit, costing, and production processes.

Preferred candidate profile

Key Responsibilities

1. Product Development Kidswear Knitwear

- Develop kidswear knit products according to buyer requirements, seasonal collections, market trends, and brand standards.
- Study and understand tech packs, sketches, specifications, measurement charts, BOMs, construction details, and artwork.
- Coordinate with designers and technical teams for new product development.
- Identify suitable knitted fabrics, yarns, trims, accessories, prints, embroidery, washes, and finishing techniques.
- Develop products in different categories such as:
- T-shirts

- Polo shirts

- Sweatshirts

- Hoodies

- Joggers

- Leggings

- Shorts

- Dresses

- Tops

- Sleepwear

- Baby and toddler knitwear
- Coordinate sample development from initial prototype through fit, size set, pre-production, and final approval.
- Ensure samples are developed accurately according to approved specifications and construction requirements.
- Monitor product development timelines and ensure timely submission of samples to buyers.

2. Fabric & Material Development

- Source and develop suitable knit fabrics according to product requirements, season, price point, and customer specifications.
- Work with fabric and yarn suppliers to develop new qualities, colors, structures, and finishes.
- Evaluate fabric GSM, composition, hand feel, stretch, recovery, shrinkage, colorfastness, and dimensional stability.
- Coordinate fabric, yarn, trims, labels, elastics, buttons, zippers, and packaging development.
- Ensure materials are suitable and safe for children's apparel.

3. Kidswear Safety & Compliance

- Ensure products comply with applicable customer, brand, and children's apparel safety requirements.

- Pay particular attention to
- Small parts and choking hazards
- Buttons, snaps, zippers, and other attachments

- Drawcords and functional cords
- Sharp points and sharp edges




- Chemical and restricted-substance requirements

- Colorfastness and fabric safety
- Needle and metal contamination requirements
- Flammability requirements, where applicable
- Age-appropriate garment construction
- Coordinate required testing and ensure materials and finished products meet buyer-approved standards.
- Ensure trims, accessories, prints, and embellishments are appropriate for the intended children's age group.

4. Costing & Commercial Development

- Prepare product costing based on fabric consumption, trims, accessories, processing, washing, printing, embroidery, packaging, and manufacturing costs.
- Analyze fabric consumption and garment construction to achieve target costs.
- Obtain and compare supplier quotations.
- Negotiate with suppliers and factories to achieve competitive prices.
- Identify opportunities for cost optimization without compromising quality, safety, or product appearance.
- Maintain accurate costing sheets and update costs when product specifications or materials change.
- Support the team in achieving target margins and commercially viable product prices.

5. Buyer Coordination

- Communicate with buyers and customers regarding product development, specifications, samples, costing, approvals, and delivery schedules.
- Understand buyer expectations and translate requirements into actionable instructions for suppliers and factories.
- Follow up on buyer comments and ensure corrections are incorporated into subsequent samples.
- Prepare development updates and product status reports.
- Maintain clear records of approvals, comments, revisions, and product specifications.

6. Sample & Approval Follow-Up

- Manage the complete sample development process from initial sample to final approval.
- Coordinate with pattern, sampling, fabric, printing, embroidery, and production teams.
- Follow up on fit samples, size sets, PP samples, and other buyer-required submissions.
- Ensure samples are submitted within agreed timelines.
- Check measurements, workmanship, fabric quality, color, trims, artwork, labels, and finishing before submission.
- Ensure all buyer comments are properly communicated and implemented.

7. Production & Order Follow-Up

- Monitor orders from development and approval through bulk production and shipment.




- Coordinate with production, planning, sourcing, quality, and logistics teams.
- Follow up on fabric and trim availability and production schedules.
- Monitor production progress against agreed delivery dates.
- Identify potential delays and communicate issues to management and relevant departments.
- Support resolution of quality, production, material, and delivery issues.

8. Market & Product Trend Analysis

- Research children's fashion trends, colors, fabrics, graphics, silhouettes, and seasonal requirements.
- Monitor competitor products and retail trends.
- Identify new product and fabric opportunities for kidswear.
- Support the development of commercially attractive and age-appropriate product ranges.
- Provide feedback on product trends, customer preferences, and market opportunities.

Required Skills & Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Textile, Apparel, Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Technology, or a related field.
- 810 years of experience in product merchandising, product development, or apparel merchandising, preferably in kidswear knitwear.
- Strong knowledge of knitted fabrics, yarns, garment construction, and manufacturing processes.
- Good understanding of children's apparel requirements and product safety.
- Knowledge of garment costing and fabric consumption.
- Strong follow-up, coordination, and negotiation skills.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and merchandising software/tools.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple styles and deadlines.
- Ability to work effectively with buyers, suppliers, factories, designers, and internal teams.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

- On-time product development and sample submission.
- Sample approval rate.
- Accuracy of product specifications and development documents.
- Product quality and compliance.
- Achievement of target costing and margins.
- Cost-saving and product optimization.
- On-time production and shipment.
- Supplier and factory performance.
- Buyer satisfaction.
- Successful development of recent kidswear products.

Ideal Candidate Profile The ideal candidate should have a strong combination of kidswear product knowledge, knitwear expertise, commercial awareness, and merchandising skills. The candidate should be detail-oriented and capable of managing products from concept fabric/material development sampling costing buyer approval production shipment, while ensuring that every product meets the required standards for fit, comfort, quality, safety, cost, and delivery.

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