Apparel Merchandiser – Knitwear & Activewear

About the role

The position sits at the intersection of retail client management and factory production, acting as the primary bridge between South African retail brands and the manufacturing floor. You will ensure that knitwear and activewear assortments are planned, developed and delivered on schedule, meeting quality, quantity and specification requirements.

Key responsibilities

• Analyse tech packs, yarn properties, fabric construction and trim requirements alongside product developers.
• Maintain day‑to‑day client relationships, providing clear updates on sample status and order progress.
• Support commercial negotiations on unit pricing, credit terms and shipping schedules under senior guidance.
• Track daily production and quality performance against brand benchmarks.
• Maintain accurate order, inventory and sample‑approval records using internal systems and spreadsheets.
• Partner with production planners to translate buyer order sheets into executable factory‑floor timelines.
• Resolve production bottlenecks, documentation errors or volume changes as frontline support.
• Research regional fashion trends, fabric innovations and raw‑material pricing.

Required profile

• Degree or Diploma in Textile Technology, Clothing & Textile Technology or Fashion Design.
• 2–5 years of merchandising experience within textile or garment manufacturing.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities, with an eye for fabric defects and manufacturing friction points.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for client‑facing and factory‑floor interactions.
• Resilience and adaptability in a fast‑paced, high‑output manufacturing environment.

Required skills

• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel (data sorting, formulas, lookups).