Development Associate Jobs in Connecticut (NOW HIRING)

Associate, Fabric Research & Development

About us:

vineyard vines is a highly successful, privately held, American clothing and accessory retailer founded in 1998 on Martha’s Vineyard by brothers, Shep & Ian Murray. With Shep & Ian still at the helm today, vineyard vines has experienced exponential year over year growth and now operates over 100 retail locations including an outlet division, a successful e-commerce business, domestic distribution center, and expanding corporate headquarters. In addition, vineyard vines is also carried in major department stores such as Nordstrom and Bloomingdales as well as numerous specialty boutiques across the US. At vineyard vines we pride ourselves on Shep & Ian’s philosophy that “every day should feel this good” and “if you’re doing what you love, you’ll be successful”.

It is an exciting time to join vineyard vines. In order to keep-up with our growing and evolving business needs, we need smart and talented individuals to join on our crew to help us to drive the good life!

vineyard vines was founded on a state of mind that "Every day should feel this good." This state of mind is something that all people experience at some point. These moments are different for all of us, but they are important because they're uniquely ours.  EDSFTG is at the core of our culture and allows us to celebrate the differences that tie us together. These diverse backgrounds are what make us stronger as a team, and it is why we are passionate about creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where every team member can bring their true self to work. We are committed to building a more diverse Team across all channels, departments, and stores within our community.

Overview:

The Fabric Research & Development Associate will support the seasonal development process by assisting in the sourcing, testing, and tracking of fabrics across multiple categories. This role is key to ensuring our materials meet brand standards for quality, sustainability, performance, and innovation, while also supporting the broader Design and Product Development teams. The ideal candidate is highly organized, curious about textiles, and passionate about delivering high-quality product.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the Senior Director of Fabric Research & Development to support the seasonal fabric development calendar and manage associated timelines.
• Assist in sourcing and selecting seasonal fabrics for mainline and outlet, in alignment with Design direction and brand aesthetic.
• Organize and maintain fabric libraries, including seasonal binders, headers, and mill information.
• Support fabric testing protocols including initiating test requests, tracking results, and flagging any quality concerns.
• Communicate with mills and vendors to track sample status, submit comments, and ensure timely delivery of developments.
• Maintain internal fabric data including cost, content, and performance specs in PLM and other tools, including Browzwear for 3D fabric visualization and simulation.
• Use Miro to support seasonal development boards, cross-functional workflows, and visual tracking of fabric development timelines.
• Participate in seasonal fabric review meetings and assist with recap and documentation.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Design, Product Development, Technical Design, and Production teams to ensure smooth handoff and execution.
• Stay current on fabric trends, innovation, and sustainability developments within the industry.
• Support special projects and material research as needed.
• Uphold the brand's quality, performance, and sustainability standards throughout the development process.

What You Bring

• 1–2 years of experience in fabric development, sourcing, or a related area in the apparel or textile industry
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to juggle multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Foundational knowledge of fabric construction, fiber content, and textile processes (dyeing, finishing, etc.)
• Interest in material innovation, sustainability, and performance textiles
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records
• Clear and professional communication skills-both written and verbal
• Comfort working cross-functionally in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Proficiency in Excel and PLM systems, familiarity with Browzwear and Miro is a plus
• A proactive, curious, and solution-oriented mindset

Every-day will feel this good because: 

• We have a fun-spirited entrepreneurial culture filled with truly “good” people
• We offer a generous employee discount so you can rep our lifestyle on-and-off the boat
• We offer a competitive salary package, 401-K, commuter benefits, and paid-family leave, health savings , flex spending accounts, life & disability insurance
• We have an onsite gym as well as health & financial wellness programs to keep you active
• We offer 2 summer Fridays to take off in addition to a competitive vacation policy & holiday calendar