Pattern Making & Prototype Manager
Christian Dior Couture seeks a Pattern Making & Prototype Manager in Florence, Italy to lead leather‑goods pattern and prototyping for luxury bags.
Overview
Christian Dior Couture is the haute couture and leather‑goods house within a leading luxury group (LVMH). The brand is renowned for its artisanal savoir‑faire, rigorous technical standards and innovation in product development for high‑end fashion and accessories.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead and coordinate all pattern‑making and prototyping activities for leather goods, ensuring accurate translation of Product Development briefs into technical patterns and industrializable samples.
- Manage and mentor a team of pattern makers, prototypists and sample‑room personnel; plan workloads and priorities in line with collection calendars and development timelines.
- Define and standardize construction methods and technical specifications to meet functional, aesthetic and quality expectations.
- Ensure technical feasibility and consistency throughout the prototype to production transition; collaborate closely with Industrialization and Production teams.
- Promote adoption of advanced tools and methodologies, and drive continuous improvement of pattern and prototyping processes.
- Review prototypes and samples for fit, construction, materials and hardware integration; resolve technical issues and approve samples for industrialization.
Qualifications
- Minimum 10 years' experience in pattern making and prototyping for luxury bags/leather goods.
- Proven experience managing the prototype–sample–industrialization pipeline and leading a technical team.
- Deep expertise in pattern construction, sewing techniques, reinforcements and hardware integration.
- Proficiency with CAD pattern‑making software (experience with Mozart is required/preferred).
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workloads against collection deadlines and development timelines.
Skills
Experience
At least 10 years of progressive experience in pattern making and prototyping within the luxury leather‑goods sector, with demonstrable responsibility for leading teams and delivering industrializable collections.
Education
Bachelor's degree or equivalent diploma in Fashion Design, Pattern Making, Industrial Fashion Technology, or a comparable technical qualification; commensurate industry experience may be accepted in lieu of formal degree.
Culture
Christian Dior Couture values meticulous craftsmanship, technical excellence and close collaboration between ateliers and product teams. The work environment combines traditional artisanal savoir‑faire with modern product development methods, fostering professional development among highly skilled specialists.