Raw Materials Developer, Accessories

WHY JOIN ALO? Mindful movement. It’s at the core of why we do what we do at ALO—it’s our calling.

Because mindful movement in the studio leads to better living. It changes who yogis are off the mat, making their lives and their communities better. That’s the real meaning of studio-to-street: taking the consciousness from practice on the mat and putting it into practice in life.

OVERVIEW The Raw Material Developer – Accessories is responsible for developing, engineering, and commercializing raw materials for accessories categories such as bags, hats, socks, belts, soft accessories, packaging-related trims, and small goods. This role ensures materials meet brand design intent, quality, performance, cost, sustainability, and manufacturability standards. The position partners closely with Design, Product Development, Sourcing, Quality, and suppliers to bring innovative and scalable materials to market on time.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Material Development Lead raw material development from concept through commercialization for accessories categories. Source and evaluate new materials including wovens, knits, leather, synthetic leather, coated fabrics, webbings, mesh, foams, linings, fillings, labels, trims, hardware, and specialty components.

Requirements

including handfeel, appearance, structure, durability, weight, functionality, and finish.

such as abrasion, colorfastness, tensile and tear strength, pilling, crocking, coating adhesion, dimensional stability, wash durability, and corrosion resistance for hardware where applicable.

Troubleshoot raw material issues such as delamination, cracking, peeling, color migration, tarnishing, shrinkage, distortion, coating failure, odor, or inconsistency in finish. Support color approval and bulk consistency across soft materials, trims, and hardware finishes. Cost Management Own raw material cost targets and partner with suppliers to negotiate pricing, MOQs, and feasible alternatives without compromising brand intent.

Support should-cost thinking across material and trim packages, identifying cost drivers and optimization opportunities. Ensure on-time raw material readiness against seasonal calendars and development milestones. Supplier and Cross-Functional Management Build and maintain relationships with mills, tanneries, trim suppliers, hardware vendors, coating and finish suppliers, and finished goods manufacturers.

Assess supplier capability and align on standards for quality, compliance, traceability, and execution. Communicate material options, risks, and trade-offs clearly to internal teams, balancing aesthetic, cost, speed, and performance. Maintain development trackers, approval logs, and issue-resolution follow-up with suppliers and cross-functional teams.

Systems and Documentation Create and maintain complete documentation including material specifications, BOM details, test reports, compliance certificates, TDS and MSDS where needed, finish references, and approval history. Ensure PLM or equivalent systems are accurate for material codes, attributes, supplier information, lead times, pricing, and approval status. Support creation of material standards and playbooks for core accessory platforms and carryover materials.

and common failure modes relevant to accessories ma

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in Textile Engineering, Materials Science, Industrial Design, Product Development, Fashion Merchandising, or related field, or equivalent experience preferred. 4+ years of raw material development experience in accessories, handbags, soft goods, trims, or related product categories. Strong understanding of soft materials, trims, and hardware used in accessories construction.