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Fabric Developer information

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How much do fabric developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for fabric developer in New York is $63.90, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54.18 and $75.19 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a fabric developer?

Fabric Developers are professionals who specialize in designing, developing, and testing textiles and materials used in various products such as clothing, upholstery, and industrial applications. They work closely with designers, engineers, and manufacturers to create fabrics that meet specific functional and aesthetic requirements. Their responsibilities include researching new materials, improving fabric performance, and ensuring quality standards are met throughout the production process.

How does a fabric developer typically collaborate with designers and production teams during the product development process?

A Fabric Developer works closely with designers to understand their creative vision and translate it into feasible fabric options, often suggesting materials or finishes that align with design goals. They also liaise with production teams to ensure that selected fabrics meet performance, cost, and manufacturing requirements. Regular meetings and prototype reviews are common, allowing for feedback and adjustments before finalizing fabric choices. This collaborative approach ensures that all stakeholders are aligned, resulting in high-quality, commercially viable products.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a fabric developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Fabric Developer, you need expertise in textile science, material properties, and fabric construction, often supported by a degree in textile engineering or a related field. Familiarity with textile testing equipment, CAD software for fabric design, and knowledge of textile industry standards are typically required. Strong attention to detail, creativity, and effective communication skills help in collaborating with designers and manufacturers. These skills are vital to ensure innovative, functional, and market-ready textile products that meet quality and performance criteria.

What is the difference between Fabric Developer vs Textile Engineer?

AspectFabric DeveloperTextile Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Textile Engineering, Fashion Design, or related fieldsBachelor's or higher in Textile Engineering or Materials Science
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, manufacturing facilities, R&D labsManufacturing plants, R&D labs, quality control departments
Industry UsageFashion, apparel, technical textilesTextile production, process optimization, material development
Common Search/ComparisonFabric Developer vs Textile Engineer

Fabric Developers focus on creating and testing new fabric designs, working closely with fashion and product teams. Textile Engineers work on the technical aspects of textile production, improving manufacturing processes and material properties. While both roles require knowledge of textiles, Fabric Developers are more design-oriented, whereas Textile Engineers emphasize engineering and process optimization.

What are popular job titles related to Fabric Developer jobs in New York?

For Fabric Developer jobs in New York, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Fabric Developer jobs in New York look for?

The top searched job categories for Fabric Developer jobs in New York are:

Fabric Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Fabric Developer job openings in New York as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 13% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $132,910 per year, or $63.9 per hour.

Fabric Developer - Apparel Textiles

Reflex Performance Resources

New York, NY • On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 26 days ago

Job description

Engineering the Materials Behind Performance


At Reflex, we view fabric as a technology platform. We are seeking a Fabric Developer - Apparel Textiles who combines material expertise with a data-driven, process-oriented mindset to drive innovation, scalability, and performance across our apparel product lines.

This role sits at the intersection of design, development, and production, leveraging technical textile knowledge and systems thinking to bring advanced materials from concept to bulk with precision and speed.


What You’ll Do

  • Lead end-to-end fabric development, applying technical expertise to engineer materials that meet performance, cost, and scalability targets
  • Partner cross-functionally with Product Development, Design, Production, and Merchandising to align material innovation with product strategy
  • Work directly with domestic and global mills/vendors to develop, test, and scale fabrics across proto, salesman sample/SMS, and bulk stages
  • Manage and optimize development timelines using structured tracking tools and milestone reporting
  • Own fabric testing protocols, including performance, durability, shrinkage, colorfastness, pilling, stretch/recovery, and compliance; analyze results and drive data-informed decisions
  • Troubleshoot development challenges using root-cause analysis and implementing scalable solutions
  • Evaluate and recommend alternative materials based on performance metrics, cost engineering, and supply chain feasibility
  • Maintain and update material data, ensuring accuracy and transparency across teams
  • Identify opportunities to improve speed-to-market, reduce cost, and enhance material performance through process optimization

What You Bring

  • 3+ years of experience in fabric development, textile engineering, apparel product development, or apparel manufacturing
  • Strong technical knowledge of fabric construction, fiber composition, performance treatments, and finishing processes
  • Understanding of testing standards and quality control protocols, including shrinkage, colorfastness, pilling, stretch/recovery, and related fabric performance testing
  • Experience working with global mills and suppliers, with awareness of regional capabilities and country-of-origin strengths
  • Experience with fabric development across proto, sample, and bulk production stages
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PLM systems; familiarity with Illustrator or other technical tools is a plus
  • Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and translate it into actionable decisions
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey technical information across teams

Why This Role Stands Out

Material innovation: Work with advanced fabrics and performance-driven technologies

Systems impact: Influence how materials are developed, tracked, and scaled across the organization

Global exposure: Collaborate with a diverse network of mills and suppliers

Data-driven environment: Move beyond intuition; use testing, metrics, and analysis to guide decisions

Career growth: Ideal for someone looking to deepen technical expertise and expand into strategic material development


Who You Are

You’re not only interested in developing fabrics, but in engineering solutions. You think in terms of performance, data, and scalability, and you’re constantly looking for ways to improve how materials are built and brought to market.

If you’re excited by the technical side of apparel and want to play a key role in advancing products through smarter, faster, and more innovative material development, this is your opportunity.

Company Description

Reflex Performance Resources Inc. is a global sourcing company that specializes in the manufacturing and sale of Activewear Apparel. Our ultimate mission is to create lifestyle brands that combine the elements of style, comfort, fit, and performance. We pride ourselves on producing high quality garments that are affordable and accessible.