Jade Gilley

Responsible for the development of all materials across Men’s, Women’s, and Accessories categories at Gymshark, supporting both inline and seasonal launches. I collaborate with mills and vendors across Europe, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Egypt to develop and dual-source new and existing materials. I own and manage all material / fabric developments from initial concept, through aesthetic approval and testing, to final buy-ready status. Regular attendance at tradeshows and industry events ensures I stay informed of market innovations, which I brief and present to the Design team to inspire new developments. By working closely with Sourcing, Design, and Product Development, I ensure smooth communication and timely delivery of seasonal materials, including highlighting high-risk developments, providing pricing insights, and escalating urgent issues to the Head of Department. In addition, I line-manage a Junior member of the materials team, delegating tasks effectively while enhancing her skills and knowledge through structured weekly check-ins, progress updates, and mentoring.

Helped cover the Senior Materials Developer. Collaborated with global sourcing teams across Turkey, Bangladesh, and China to develop and approve technical fabrics in line with quality, performance, and sustainability standards. Led the redevelopment of the core leggings range for SP27, integrating new fabric innovations while ensuring continuity from SP24 through WI26 with full approvals. Utilised PLM and Origin to manage fabric lead times, critical paths, and sustainability compliance across partner mills. Leveraged global factory experience to identify new manufacturing partners and address fabric capability gaps, while working cross-functionally across denim, womenswear, and special projects to broaden fabric expertise and people management skills.

My work focused on material development, dyeing, printing and compliance, as well as collaborating cross-functionally to resolve fabric-related issues to support the product development team. I wrote a 3/6/12 month road map to drive fabric innovation and sustainability, and was the key fabric and factory point of contact for a new activewear range (advising on material properties, factory selection, and testing requirements). I oversaw fabric testing protocols and authored a monthly fabric innovations newsletter. Finally, I was present in mill/factory audits, evaluating storage, cutting processes, and compliance standards to support responsible sourcing and continuous improvements.

Responsible for developing mainline materials for lululemon’s casual and golf collections, ensuring alignment with sustainability initiatives, industry trends, and consumer needs. I maintained very strong relationships with mills, drove material innovation and identified gaps in the fabric library, then actioning new developments accordingly. With a comprehensive understanding of the product lifecycle—from yarn sourcing to garment creation—I collaborated closely with cross-functional teams, including Designers, Product Developers, and Sourcing, to ensure seamless execution. I also oversaw fabric testing and approvals, attend fit meetings to uphold garment specifications, and adhere to seasonal timelines to meet product development goals.

I was responsible for developing Gymshark’s main line materials across various collections, collaborating closely with the Design Team to source and create fabrics that meet seasonal requirements. I work directly with mills to drive material innovation, ensuring we stay ahead of trends while maintaining strong global supplier relationships. My role involves managing yarn-dyed marl fabrics, flat knit garments, and washed textiles, as well as overseeing test reports and maintaining an up-to-date wash library. Additionally, I have travelled extensively to factories, trade shows, and comparative shops across Europe and Asia to enhance material development strategies. I also created a roadmap to transition bag fabrications from FOS to NOM, optimizing costs and timelines. Beyond product development, I mentored interns and collaborate with cross-functional teams, strengthening both my leadership and managerial skills.

In this role, I gained valuable experience adhering to critical timelines and developing comprehensive fabric libraries. My responsibilities encompassed overseeing products from initial concept through to market launch, which included material and product development, packaging design, and the evaluation of red and gold seal samples. I meticulously tracked and analysed lab dips within a colour assessment cabinet, approving acceptable shades while considering deviations from the originally approved samples.

During my internship, I managed my own product range while leading a 12-month sustainability project focused on improving N Brown’s environmental impact across dyeing and colouring processes, raw materials, and packaging. Successfully completed within the set timeline, the project culminated in a one-hour presentation to senior leadership and department heads. Additionally, I collaborated with buyers to develop seasonal colour palettes, attended leading industry trade shows such as Heimtextil (Frankfurt), Future Fabrics Expo (London), and The Spring Fair (Birmingham), and analysed lab dips to ensure colour accuracy for bulk production.

Worked as a Front of House Waitress during the summer holidays, providing exceptional customer service in a fast-paced environment. Responsibilities included greeting and seating guests, taking orders, serving food and beverages, and ensuring a high standard of hospitality.

Worked as a waitress at a local coffee shop on weekends, starting as soon as I was eligible to work and continuing until I left for university in 2015. In this role, I provided friendly and efficient customer service, took orders, prepared beverages, and managed transactions. I also assisted with maintaining cleanliness, restocking supplies, and ensuring a welcoming atmosphere for guests.

Spent the summer of 2014 working full-time in an administrative role, managing inbound calls and utilising various Microsoft Office applications to support daily operations and administrative tasks.