Fendi Sportswear & Denim Product Development Manager
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Mid-Level
- Compensation
- €63,000/year
- Department
- Merchandising, Buying & Planning
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- Jul 21, 2026
About Fendi
Founded in Rome in 1925, Fendi stands as one of Italy’s most distinguished luxury houses, celebrated for its exceptional craftsmanship, Roman spirit, and bold creative vision. As an employer, Fendi offers a dynamic environment where heritage and innovation meet across métiers including design, leather goods, fur, ready-to-wear, retail, communications, and corporate functions. The Maison values artisanal excellence, cultural curiosity, entrepreneurial energy, and collaboration, inviting its teams to contribute to a legacy defined by refinement and experimentation. Within the LVMH Group, Fendi provides international career opportunities, strong professional development, and the privilege of shaping the future of contemporary luxury.
Fendi seeks a Sportswear & Denim Product Development Manager in Rome, Italy to lead RTW collection development from concept to production.
Role & Responsibilities
- Act as lead contact point and assume responsibility for the complete development cycle of the Sportswear & Denim collection
- Participate in technical meetings with Style, modelling, production, and development teams to advance projects through successive phases
- Coordinate activities and resources involved in the sample development process, monitoring production timelines and quality
- Manage project planning, execution, and commercialization from insights and briefs through design, development, and costing stages
- Review all prototypes and market samples to verify accuracy and adherence to specifications
- Participate in production and development fittings, communicating updated technical packages and specifications to manufacturing partners
- Lead relationships with suppliers and manufacturers on development initiatives, providing comprehensive feedback on all products
- Maintain strict adherence to the company's product development calendar, tracking collection progress and resolving issues to meet objectives and deadlines
- Liaison with suppliers regarding development progress and returns within scheduled timeframes, prioritizing sustainable manufacturing solutions
- Evaluate all components with rigorous attention to quality standards and performance requirements
Qualifications
- Minimum 8–10 years of professional experience in similar roles within sportswear product development, preferably in luxury fashion companies
- University degree with specialization in clothing or related fashion discipline
- Comprehensive knowledge of product development and manufacturing processes, including fabrics, woven materials, garment specifications, fitting, and pattern-making
- Demonstrated expertise in managing complex, multi-disciplinary projects
- Strong interpersonal and communication capabilities
- Proficiency in English
- Availability to travel within Italy as required
Skills
Experience
Minimum 8–10 years of professional experience in product development roles within the sportswear sector, preferably in luxury fashion. The candidate must demonstrate a solid track record of leading collections through the complete development cycle, from conceptual briefing through commercialization, with proven expertise in managing relationships with international manufacturing partners and coordinating multi-disciplinary teams.
Education
University degree with emphasis on clothing, fashion design, or related discipline.
Workplace
This position is based in Rome, Lazio, Italy.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position is EUR 63,000 per annum.
Benefits
Performance-based bonuses at the discretion of Fendi based on individual and organizational performance; legal benefits and additional benefits provided in accordance with current company policies; subject to the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement (CCNL Commercio) applicable in Italy.
Culture
Fendi cultivates a workplace culture rooted in Roman heritage, exceptional craftsmanship, and a forward-looking spirit of creativity. As an employer, it offers a refined, collaborative environment where teams are encouraged to combine technical excellence with bold innovation in service of a distinctive luxury vision.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Fendi, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Sportswear Development Manager», «Product Development Lead - Denim», «RTW Development Manager», «Fashion Product Development Specialist», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.