Prada Performance Apparel Product Developer
- Seniority
- Mid-Level
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- May 14, 2026
About Prada
Prada is an iconic Italian luxury house renowned for its rigorous craftsmanship, modernist design language and global retail presence. Linea Rossa (the red-line) represents Prada's technical, performance-led sub-brand, marrying advanced materials and sportswear technology with the maison's high standards for quality and finish.
Prada Linea Rossa in Milan seeks a Performance Apparel Product Developer to lead technical development of high-performance sportswear.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end product development for performance apparel from concept to production, ensuring alignment with design intent and technical requirements.
- Create and maintain detailed technical packs, specifications, measurements and grading rules for multiple size ranges.
- Select and validate performance fabrics, membranes, laminates and trims; coordinate laboratory testing and performance validation (breathability, waterproofing, abrasion, etc.).
- Manage prototype cycles and fit sessions, drive fit corrections and critical-to-quality decisions with design and pattern teams.
- Coordinate with suppliers and factories to ensure manufacturability, cost targets, lead times and compliance with quality standards.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with design, R&D, sourcing, quality assurance and production to de-risk launches and optimise product performance.
- Monitor production sampling, pre-production approvals and on-boarding of new vendors; support troubleshooting during initial production runs.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Textile Engineering, Fashion Technology, Industrial Design or equivalent technical field.
- Minimum 3 years of demonstrable experience in product development for performance apparel, sportswear or technical outerwear.
- Proven experience creating technical packs, interpreting patterns and driving fit-development processes.
- Solid understanding of performance materials (membranes, laminates, coated fabrics) and laboratory testing protocols.
Skills
Experience
At least three years of hands-on product development experience in performance apparel, sportswear or technical outerwear within a premium or luxury environment, including direct factory interaction and prototype-to-production delivery.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Textile Engineering, Fashion Technology, Industrial Design or equivalent; postgraduate technical qualifications or specialised courses in performance textiles are advantageous.
Workplace
This position is based in Milan, Lombardy, Italy.
Culture
The workplace balances Italian artisanal standards with a rigorous, innovation-driven approach; teams are collaborative and multidisciplinary, bringing together design sensibility with technical expertise. The Linea Rossa environment prizes precision, material research and a problem-solving mindset adapted to high-performance product challenges.
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 Prada, 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 «Technical Apparel Developer», «Sportswear Product Developer», «Performance Textile Product Developer», «Technical Product Developer — Apparel», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.