Associate Director of Fabric & Trim

About Primary

Primary is a mom-founded kids’ clothing brand on a mission to help every kid be their truest self. Since launching in 2015, we’ve created simple, beautiful, gender-neutral styles made to last — with super-soft, sustainable fabrics and slogan-free designs that let kids shine in what they wear.

Our customers care deeply about what we do, helping us build one of the highest NPS scores in the industry (85+!) and an incredibly loyal community. We’re growing a strong, sustainable, and profitable (!!) business — and we’re always looking for great people to grow it with us.

We value kind, curious, and thoughtful self-starters who think strategically, collaborate generously, and care about doing great work. We’re also a change-friendly bunch — always open to new ideas and perspectives that make Primary better for our customers, our teammates, and our world.

About the Role 

This position owns the sustainability, quality, and testing standards across every fabric and trim component of our assortment - from first sample through bulk production. You're responsible for the hand-feel, the construction, the testing, and the recommendation on whether a fabric or trim is good enough to carry our name. 

We're looking for one of Primary's toughest quality critics. That means someone with a strong attention to detail, passion for the product, and the presence to push back on design, merchandising, and vendors when quality is on the line, and the generosity to teach the team why. When the team pushes for something softer, you'll spot the quality risks early (pilling, shrinkage, durability) and find the path that delivers both. You'll also be a key partner in counter-sourcing, giving us more flexibility across mills without giving up any quality.

The role serves as the key liaison between Sourcing, Design, Merchandising testing labs, and overseas partners to keep seasonal fabric and trim development on track across multiple product categories. This person is a textile expert, with extensive fabric and trim knowledge and broad expertise in strategic sourcing and allocation, balanced with a passion for continuous improvement and innovation. 

This is a hybrid role based in our New York office two days a week.

What You’ll Do 

• Source, redevelop, and test fabrics and trims to meet brand and regulatory standards. 
• Track mill and vendor quality, delivery, and performance to guide sourcing and development decisions. 
• Lead sustainable certification programs, including factory onboarding and organic labeling compliance. 
• Own trim artwork and layout approval — hangtags, labels, and other on-garment elements — in line with brand and certification standards. 
• Manage seasonal development calendars, flagging risks to keep testing and approvals on schedule. 
• Approve bulk lot quality, partnering with mills to resolve issues before shipment. 
• Maintain quality and testing standards, leading root-cause investigations on quality issues and returns. 
• Lead ongoing market research to keep Primary's fabric offering on the leading edge of innovation, proposing thoughtful solutions that reflect a clear understanding of Primary's goals and where the brand is headed. 

What You’ll Bring 

• 8+ years of experience in kids fabric/trim sourcing, textile development, or quality assurance in apparel. 
• Deep technical knowledge of fabric construction across knits, wovens, denim, swim, and outerwear, plus trim components (labels, hangtags, etc.). 
• Hands-on experience with fabric and trim performance testing (colorfastness, stretch/recovery, water resistance, wash durability) and working with third-party testing labs. 
• Experience managing GOTS and OEKO-TEX (or similar) certification programs, including factory onboarding and certification. 
• Proven experience developing and managing overseas vendor and mill relationships, including scorecards and performance management. 
• Strong project management skills, with experience owning seasonal development calendars across multiple product categories. 

What We Offer

We want our team to feel supported, valued, and able to thrive — at work and beyond. Our benefits include:

• 4-day work weeks (for most roles, Fridays are flexible)

• Generous time off (3-4 weeks of PTO, unlimited sick time, 10 holidays + winter break) and leave options (including 12 weeks fully paid for all new parents)

• Multiple medical, dental, vision, and pre-tax accounts

• 401(k) with company match

• Perks like an employee discount, monthly learning (or gym) stipend, home-office reimbursement, and manager team-building fund

• A kind, colorful, and collaborative culture

Ready to Apply?

We’re excited to grow our team with people who share our curiosity, care, and creativity. At Primary, we believe great work happens when everyone feels seen, supported, and free to bring their full selves — just like the kids we design for.

We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace that welcomes diverse perspectives and experiences. If you need any accommodations during the hiring process, please reach out! We partner with Disclo, a secure third-party platform, to make the process simple and confidential. 

If this role sounds like a fit, we’d love to hear from you - visit our careers page to learn more.