Position: Production Merchandiser
Company: Varuna Gupta Studio
Location: Mumbai
Experience: 3–6 years in fashion/apparel production
Employment Type: Full-time
Reporting To: Varuna Gupta / Founder
About the Role
We are looking for a strong, organised and hands-on Production Merchandiser to manage the complete production process for our fashion collections—from approved design and sampling through sourcing, production, quality control and final dispatch.
The ideal candidate should understand Indian ethnic / occasion wear, fabrics, embroidery, tailoring and garment construction, and should be comfortable coordinating with karigars, tailors, fabric suppliers, embroidery units and other production vendors.
This is a high-ownership role requiring excellent follow-up, attention to detail and the ability to ensure that every garment is delivered on time, as approved and within the agreed costing.
Key Responsibilities1. Production Planning & Follow-up
- Convert approved designs into clear production requirements.
- Prepare production timelines and ensure all milestones are met.
- Follow up daily with tailors, karigars, embroidery units, fabric suppliers and other vendors.
- Track multiple orders/styles simultaneously.
- Identify production delays early and take corrective action.
- Maintain a clear production status report for all ongoing orders.
2. Fabric & Raw Material Management
- Coordinate sourcing and procurement of fabrics, linings, trims, embellishments and accessories.
- Ensure fabrics and materials are available before production begins.
- Check fabric quality, colour, quantity and specifications.
- Coordinate fabric cutting and allocation against individual orders.
- Maintain proper records of material issued to vendors and material returned.
3. Sampling & Product Development
- Coordinate first samples, corrections and final approvals.
- Communicate design specifications accurately to production teams.
- Ensure measurements, construction, embroidery, finishing and detailing match approved samples.
- Coordinate alterations and re-sampling where required.
- Maintain approved samples/reference pieces for production.
4. Vendor & Karigar Management
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with reliable production vendors and karigars.
- Negotiate production rates wherever required.
- Allocate work based on capacity, quality and delivery timelines.
- Monitor vendor performance.
- Ensure work is collected and delivered as per committed timelines.
- Maintain records of outstanding work and vendor payments.
5. Quality Control
- Conduct regular quality checks during production and before dispatch.
- Check:
- Measurements
- Stitching and finishing
- Embroidery
- Fabric quality
- Colour matching
- Embellishment placement
- Garment construction
- Pressing and finishing
- Ensure no garment is dispatched without meeting the required quality standard.
6. Costing & Production Control
- Prepare and maintain garment production cost sheets.
- Track fabric, embroidery, tailoring, finishing and other production costs.
- Compare actual costs against approved costs.
- Identify unnecessary wastage or cost overruns.
- Assist in negotiating better rates with vendors.
7. Order & Dispatch Management
- Maintain order-wise production trackers.
- Coordinate completion, finishing, packing and dispatch.
- Ensure urgent/client orders are prioritised appropriately.
- Maintain accurate records of completed, pending and delayed orders.
- Coordinate with the sales/design team regarding delivery commitments.
What We Are Looking For
- 3–6 years of relevant experience in fashion/apparel production or merchandising.
- Strong understanding of Indian ethnic and occasion wear preferred.
- Good knowledge of fabrics, tailoring, embroidery and garment construction.
- Excellent follow-up and coordination skills.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Ability to handle multiple styles/orders simultaneously.
- Good negotiation and vendor-management skills.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, founder-led fashion business.
- Strong Excel/Google Sheets and basic computer skills.
- Ability to work independently and take ownership rather than waiting for instructions.
- Good communication skills in English and Hindi; Marathi is an advantage.
Personal Qualities
We are looking for someone who is:
- Extremely organised
- Proactive and solution-oriented
- Strong at follow-ups
- Detail-oriented
- Firm but respectful with vendors and karigars
- Calm under pressure
- Accountable for deadlines
- Commercially aware
- Able to spot problems before they become emergencies
Most Important
The right candidate should be someone who can take ownership of production rather than simply coordinate it.
If a garment is delayed, a fabric is short, a karigar has not delivered, or a sample is incorrect, the Production Merchandiser should find the solution and close the issue.
Key Performance Indicators
Success in this role will be measured by:
- On-time completion of production
- Reduction in production delays
- Accuracy of costing
- Quality of finished garments
- Effective vendor/karigar management
- Reduction in rework and wastage
- Accurate production tracking
- Ability to manage increasing production volumes without losing control
To Apply: Please share your CV along with details of your current role, experience in fashion production, expected salary and notice period.
Pay: ₹25,000.00 - ₹40,000.00 per month
Work Location: In person
