Fabric Buyer at Truworths

Job Description    

• At Truworths, you'll find a dynamic business environment where our staff is constantly challenged to re-invent the way we do business in order to keep us at the forefront of the South African fashion industry.

Key Responsibilities    

PRE-PRODUCTION

• Build sustainable relationships with Mills and Agents by managing day to day interactions in the correct manner (e.g. delivery extensions, re-negotiate delivery dates, cancellations)
• Obtain and maintain updated prices from Mills and Agents/ negotiation with all on prices, MOQ and lead-times for bulk
• Do seasonal cost comparisons on Core and Key volume fabrications across existing and new potential fabric suppliers. Ensure we purchase fabric at the best possible price available
• Maintain accurate useable widths and prices in Sync
• Receive and send off fabric briefs with all fabric specification, colour swatches/ pantone references to Mills and agents. Follow-up and chase prices to meet deadline dates
• Manage Lab Dips, Print Design approvals as per the deadline dates to ensure that fabric production starts on time
• Obtain sign off approvals/ re-labs from buying division and forward to Mills and agents
• Should a lab dip or strike-off get rejected and deadline dates are impacted, the Production Planner and Merchandiser need to be notified immediately
• Effectively and efficiently deals with all fabric related queries and issues with Mills, Agents

PURCHASING / DELIVERY OF GOODS

• Analyse Merchant briefing requests / apply ratings/ analyse dyelots and MOQ from Mills
• Responsible for calculating the fabric meters to purchase
• Accurately place fabric orders or allocate stock with-in 48hours of receiving the initial order from Merchandising
• Ensure that fabric orders placed, meets the deadline Off-Bulk required dates as well as fabric in-house Ware House dates
• Consistently follow up on fabric delivery once lab dip is approved to ensure on-time delivery
• Inform Production Planner and Merchandising of any out-of line instances
• Raising PO's and ensuring that Mill confirmations/indents/pro-formas are correct and all relevant fabric construction detail are specified
• Specify any special instructions to avoid quality performance issues i.e. matching components, color blocking, suitable for x-staining, suitable for placement prints etc.
• Check the Mill delivery schedules that come through line by line every week to ensure all orders are listed and deliveries are on track
• Ensure that off-bulk approvals are given through to the mill in writing
• Ensure fabric PO's are updated and correct upon fabric delivery
• Ensure that fabric to be delivered is within the Truworths designated tolerance
• Discuss penalties/claims or remake and airfreight of fabric with mills and agents where necessary
• Keep track of stock fabrics so we don’t order stock where we do have fabric available. Maintain Fabric Stock Files
• Processing all claims with Mills / Agents and ensure all credit notes are received

QUALITY STANDARDS

• Receive and analyse all lab reports for bulk from suppliers to ensure compliance to Truworths Standards
• Timeously submits bulk testing to TW's QA Lab on all bulk fabrics, where required
• Follow up with suppliers on any lab failures/ elevate any serious issues to senior management
• Liaison with Mills and Agents regarding lab failure issues

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

• Challenges the efficiency and effectiveness of systems and proposes modifications.
• Ensures consistent approach is used across department for admin.
• Maintains a neat and efficient workstation and filing system.

Qualifications and Experience    

• 3-5 years working in a fabric buying environment

Competencies    

• Supplier delivery
• Supplier quality
• Fabric Stock Management

Deadline:17th April,2026