Sr. Patternmaker / Atelier Manager

Coach is a global fashion house founded in New York in 1941. Inspired by the vision of Creative Director Stuart Vevers and the inclusive and courageous spirit of our hometown, we make beautiful things, crafted to last—for you to be yourself in.

 

Coach is part of the Tapestry portfolio – a global house of brands committed to stretching what’s possible.

 

A member of the Tapestry family, we are part of a global house of brands that has unwavering optimism and is committed to being innovative and wholly inclusive.

 

The Manager, Sr. Patternmaker, is responsible for the execution and quality of patterns and samples across both commercial production development and runway/show development. This dual-facing role demands technical precision for scalable production and creative flexibility to bring Design’s aesthetic vision to life. The role also manages a team of sample makers and collaborates closely with cross-functional partners to ensure timely delivery of prototypes for fittings, internal reviews, and key milestones.

The successful individual will...

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and mentor a team of sample makers, fostering a culture of precision, collaboration, and innovation.
• Oversee workload distribution, timelines, and sample delivery across commercial and show collections.

Patternmaking & Sample Development

• Partner with Design to interpret sketches, construction details, and proportions.
• Create, digitize, and modify patterns using Optitex, as well as through flat patternmaking and draping.
• Deliver draped prototypes/toiles to support Design feedback on silhouette, proportion, and fit.
• Cut, assemble, and manage prototype patterns; ensure full sets are tracked and organized.
• Execute and oversee creation of prototypes based on Design Card specifications and concept drawings.
• Provide technical direction and support to sample makers during prototype execution.

Problem Solving & Technical Expertise

• Anticipate construction challenges and recommend alternative solutions without compromising design intent.
• Ensure prototypes and presentation samples meet both creative and commercial standards.
• Safeguard product feasibility and consistency for production while supporting innovation for show.

Operational Oversight

• Deliver presentation samples on time for fittings, internal reviews, and key development milestones.
• Maintain equipment, coordinate service needs, and manage Atelier supplies and materials.
• Uphold product development timelines in collaboration with cross-functional teams.

 

The accomplished individual will possess...

• Mastery of draping as a core part of the patternmaking process, including delivering drapes to facilitate Design feedback.
• Proficiency in Optitex patternmaking software (required).
• Expertise in flat patternmaking and cutting first samples.
• Ability to balance design vision with production feasibility.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills across Design, Development, and Atelier teams.
• Ability to thrive under tight timelines in a fast-paced environment.

• 10+ years of experience in patternmaking and product development, ideally spanning both commercial and runway/show collections.
• Previous management experience in a sample/production environment.
• Additional CAD software experience (e.g., Lectra, Gerber) a plus.
• Proficiency in MS Outlook and general computer literacy.

 

Our Competencies for All Employees

 

• Courage: Doesn’t hold back anything that needs to be said; provides current, direct, complete, and “actionable” positive and corrective feedback to others; lets people know where they stand; faces up to people problems on any person or situation (not including direct reports) quickly and directly; is not afraid to take negative action when necessary.
• Creativity: Comes up with a lot of new and unique ideas; easily makes connections among previously unrelated notions; tends to be seen as original and value-added in brainstorming settings.
• Customer Focus: