Fashion Merchandiser & Product Developer Dupattas

Fashion Merchandiser & Product Developer – Dupattas

Location: Surat, Gujarat

Employment Type: Full-time

Experience: 2–5 years

Industry: Textile / Apparel / Fashion / Garment Manufacturing

About the Company

We are a growing manufacturing company specializing in Dupattas, supplying to value retail chains, wholesalers and kurti manufacturers across India.

We are expanding our product development and merchandising team and are looking for a Fashion Merchandiser with a strong understanding of ethnic fashion and a creative eye for product development.

This role is primarily focused on Merchandising and Product Development, with a supporting responsibility in Dupatta Designing.

Role Overview

The candidate will be responsible for developing commercially viable dupatta collections, coordinating the complete sampling and product-development process, understanding market trends, and ensuring that new designs move smoothly from concept to production.

The ideal candidate should be someone who understands what sells in the market, not just someone who can create attractive designs.

Key Responsibilities1. Merchandising & Product Development

• Develop new dupatta collections based on market trends, customer requirements and commercial opportunities.
• Understand customer requirements and convert them into suitable product concepts.
• Coordinate the complete product development cycle from concept → sampling → corrections → finalization → production.
• Maintain and follow up on sampling and development schedules.
• Coordinate with fabric, dyeing, printing, embroidery, lace and other value-addition suppliers.
• Follow up regularly with suppliers to ensure timely sampling and production.
• Check samples for design, colour, fabric, finishing and overall commercial appeal.
• Maintain product and sample records, specifications and development details.
• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure smooth execution of finalized products.
• Assist in developing collections for different customer segments and price points.
• Track market trends, competitor products, colours, fabrics, prints, embellishments and pricing.

2. Dupatta Fashion Designing

• Create and develop new dupatta design concepts and collections.
• Develop ideas for prints, colours, borders, laces, embroidery, embellishments and other value additions.
• Create mood boards, colour combinations and design references.
• Modify existing designs according to market requirements and customer feedback.
• Work closely with the merchandising team to ensure designs are commercially viable.
• Assist in preparing design presentations and product concepts for buyers.
• Keep updated with current ethnic-wear and fashion trends.

3. Supplier & Buyer Coordination

• Coordinate with suppliers for fabric, printing, dyeing, embroidery, lace, tassels and other processes.
• Communicate design and product requirements clearly to suppliers.
• Follow up on sampling, corrections, production timelines and quality.
• Coordinate with buyers/customers for requirements, feedback and product development.
• Ensure buyer requirements are accurately communicated to the production and supplier teams.

Required Skills

• Strong merchandising and product-development skills.
• Good understanding of ethnic wear and dupatta products.
• Good knowledge of fabrics, prints, colours, laces, embroidery and other value additions.
• Strong understanding of commercial fashion and market trends.
• Ability to identify products that are both fashionable and commercially viable.
• Good communication and negotiation skills.
• Strong follow-up and coordination abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple product developments simultaneously.
• Good understanding of costing and price-sensitive product development.
• Basic to good knowledge of CorelDRAW / Adobe Illustrator / Photoshop will be an advantage.
• Good MS Excel / Google Sheets knowledge.
• Ability to create basic design presentations and product sheets.

Preferred Experience

Candidates with experience in any of the following will be preferred:

• Dupatta merchandising
• Ethnic wear merchandising
• Kurti / women's ethnic wear merchandising
• Textile merchandising
• Apparel product development
• Fashion accessories / ethnic fashion product development
• Textile manufacturing or sourcing

Candidates with direct experience in dupattas will have an advantage.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who is:

• Commercially minded, not purely design-focused.
• Creative but understands customer and market requirements.
• Strong in follow-ups and execution.
• Comfortable coordinating with multiple suppliers and internal teams.
• Able to independently handle product development from idea to final sample.
• Interested in building and expanding a Dupatta product range.
• Willing to learn and take ownership of the merchandising function.

Education

• Graduate / Diploma in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Fashion Merchandising, Apparel / Garment Technology or related field preferred.
• Relevant industry experience may be considered in place of formal qualifications.

Salary

₹15,000 – ₹30,000* per month, depending on experience, skills and suitability.

Salary will be discussed based on the candidate's experience and capabilities.

Location

Surat, Gujarat

Candidates from outside Surat should be willing to relocate to Surat.

Why Join Us

• Opportunity to work in a specialized Dupatta manufacturing and product-development business.
• Hands-on exposure to the complete product-development and merchandising process.
• Opportunity to work directly with suppliers, manufacturers and buyers.
• Scope to contribute creatively to new collections and product development.
• Growth opportunity as the business and product range expands.

Important

This is primarily a Merchandising & Product Development role. Fashion Designing will be an important supporting responsibility.

• Candidates who are looking only for a purely creative fashion-designing role may not be the right fit.