Assistant Manager - Fabric Sourcing

Company Overview

Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands Limited (ABLBL), a member of the Aditya Birla Group, stands as a prominent branded apparel company with an extensive collection of prestigious lifestyle brands. As of March 31, 2025, ABLBL operates an expansive retail network spanning over 4.6 million sq. ft., featuring 3,253 exclusive brand outlets, presence in more than 38,000 multi-brand outlets, and over 7,000 shop-in-shops housed within department stores nationwide. Its portfolio boasts some of India's most esteemed and trusted brands including Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly, and Peter England — each carrying a legacy exceeding 25 years. These brands have consistently achieved steady growth driven by a dedicated emphasis on design innovation, category expansions, and operational excellence across formalwear, casual wear, and occasion wear segments. Additionally, ABLBL has established a robust position within the innerwear and athleisure markets through Van Heusen Innerwear, which has significantly broadened its distribution footprint across India. Strategic partnerships with global names like Simon Carter, American Eagle, and Reebok further enhance the portfolio. American Eagle has secured status as one of India’s leading premium denim brands, Reebok has expanded its reach following its 2022 management transition, and Simon Carter maintains its premium menswear distinction through unique designs and curated collections.

Role Summary

The Assistant Manager - Fabric Sourcing is responsible for leading strategic and operational sourcing activities for woven fabric categories across the company’s brands. The role ensures timely fabric availability meeting quality, cost, and delivery benchmarks. Key focus areas include vendor development, sourcing innovation, cost control, quality assurance, and close collaboration with Design, Product, and Manufacturing teams to fulfill business goals and support seasonal product launches.

Key Responsibilities

• Formulate seasonal and annual fabric sourcing plans aligned with business needs and sourcing strategies.
• Ensure fabric availability that meets predetermined quality specifications and target costing to support business margin objectives.
• Collaborate with Design, Product, and Merchandising teams to understand fabric requirements and synchronize sourcing activities with business timelines.
• Source fabrics domestically and internationally to satisfy product development and production demands.
• Negotiate effectively with vendors to secure optimal pricing, commercial conditions, and maximize value.
• Oversee sourcing budgets and implement cost-saving initiatives without compromising quality.
• Ensure prompt procurement and delivery of fabrics while proactively managing supply delays, shortages, and quality issues.
• Drive the creation and application of sourcing SOPs and process improvements to increase operational efficiency.
• Implement fabric quality assurance and supplier quality monitoring procedures to maintain consistency and compliance.
• Establish and maintain robust supplier relationships, communicate business and quality expectations, and support vendor capability development.
• Assess supplier performance regularly, initiate improvement plans, and ensure adherence to organizational quality, compliance, and sustainability norms.
• Lead sourcing projects to boost efficiency, speed to market, quality, and commercial performance.
• Monitor sourcing progress, address issues promptly with stakeholders, and ensure uninterrupted fabric supply.
• Support risk assessment, supplier diversification, and contingency planning to maintain business continuity.
• Stay abreast of fashion trends, fabric innovations, raw material pricing, and best sourcing practices globally and locally.
• Identify new sourcing opportunities and implement actions to increase sourcing effectiveness and competitiveness.
• Maintain a detailed supplier database capturing capabilities, capacities, specializations, and commercial data.
• Engage in industry events like fabric fairs and mill weeks to encourage innovation and sourcing excellence.
• Introduce innovative fabrics, finishes, and product solutions in partnership with Design and Product teams for distinctive offerings.
• Manage and develop the sourcing team through performance tracking, coaching, training, and resource optimization.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, high performance, and continuous improvement while ensuring compliance with organizational processes and governance.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Textile Technology, Textile Engineering, Fashion Technology, Apparel Production, Supply Chain, or related fields.
• 5 to 8 years of experience in fabric sourcing, textile procurement, product development, or supply chain roles within Apparel, Fashion, Retail, Lifestyle, or Textile sectors.
• Strong expertise with woven fabrics, fabric mills, supplier management, and sourcing operations.
• Experience with both domestic and international sourcing is desirable.