Junior QA Executive

Quality Assurance in fashion protects the brand from returns, complaints, recalls, and reputational damage. The job is to make sure every product that reaches the customer matches the approved standard for fit, finish, materials, safety, and labeling. Role & responsibilities 1. Setting standards • Define quality specifications and acceptable quality limits (AQL) per category: apparel - Men's, Ladies, Kid swear, footwear, accessories. • Write and maintain tech packs, fit and measurement specs, tolerances, and test requirements together with design and buying. • Create approval stages lab dips, pre-production samples, fit samples, and the golden sample the whole order is judged against. 2. Supplier and factory control • Audit and approve factories, covering quality systems, capacity, and social compliance (ethical sourcing). • Review sample approvals before bulk production starts. • Run corrective action plans (CAPA) when defects are found, and track supplier scorecards. 3. Product testing and compliance • Fabric and garment tests: color fastness (wash, rub, light, perspiration), shrinkage,pilling, tensile and seam strength, GSM, and fabric composition. • Safety and chemical compliance: restricted substances (RSL), azo dyes, formaldehyde, nickel release in metal trims, and phthalates. • Kids wear drawstring rules, small parts, flammability, and sharp-edge checks. • Labeling: fiber content, care instructions, size, and country of origin, including Arabic and English requirements for the UAE/GCC. • Make sure products comply with local regulations, such as ESMA/MoIAT requirements in the UAE. 4. Incoming and post-sale quality • Check goods on arrival at the warehouse (receiving QC) before they enter stock. • Analyze customer returns, complaints, and store feedback to find root causes: fit, defect or misdescription. • Handle claims and chargebacks against suppliers. • For online and marketplace sales, check that images, size charts, and product descriptions match the actual product, since mismatches drive returns. • Textile knowledge: fibers, weaves and knits, finishes, dyeing, and printing, and how fabrics behave when washed and worn. • Garment construction: stitching types, seam quality, pattern matching, hardware (zips, buttons, snaps) and finishing. • Defect classification: critical, major and minor, with the ability to judge what is acceptable. • Measurement and fit: grading, size consistency across styles and brands, and tolerance checks. • Standards and testing: AQL/ISO 2859, ISO and AATCC test methods, and knowledge of labs such as SGS, Intertek and Bureau Veritas. • Data and reporting: defect rate tracking, return-rate analysis, supplier ranking, and clear reports to buying and management. • Soft skills: firm but constructive negotiation with suppliers, attention to detail, and working with buyers, merchandisers, and designers under tight deadlines. A degree or diploma in textile technology, garment technology, or fashion technology, plus 5+ years in garment QC for a retailer or buying house. Certifications such as ISO 9001 lead auditor or AQL inspector training add credibility.