Merchandising Manager/ Buyer for Product Sourcing

Freelance Product Sourcing Specialist — Private Label Apparel About the Role We're looking for an experienced freelancer in product sourcing, merchandising, and fashion buying to help us identify and vet private label and boutique manufacturers for a growing apparel brand. This is a research- and relationship-driven role: you'll be building a curated shortlist of manufacturing partners across multiple fabric categories, with a focus on flexibility (DTC-friendly, low MOQ) and quality. What You'll Do - Source and vet private label manufacturers for clothing production - Identify factories/suppliers that offer direct-to-consumer (DTC) fulfillment options (e.g., dropship, blind-ship, or white-label DTC programs) - Prioritize partners with low minimum order quantities (MOQs), suitable for a growing brand - Source manufacturers and boutique producers for the a range fabric/product categories - Identify boutique-level manufacturers or small-batch producers for seasonal speciality products - Compile a comparison sheet for each lead including: MOQ, pricing tiers, lead times, sample policy, certifications, DTC capability, location, and contact info - Conduct outreach to manufacturers to request samples, pricing, and program details - Flag any red flags (quality concerns, unclear terms, unreliable communication) What We're Looking For - Proven experience in apparel sourcing, merchandising, or buying (agency, brand-side, or freelance) - Established network of or strong research skills for finding private label/boutique manufacturers (domestic and/or overseas) - Familiarity with low-MOQ and DTC fulfillment models in apparel - Strong organizational skills — comfortable building and maintaining structured trackers/sheets - Clear, professional communication for vendor outreach - Bonus: experience sourcing for performance/technical fabrics or resortwear/swim-adjacent categories Deliverables - A shortlist of vetted manufacturers per category - A structured comparison document (spreadsheet or similar) with key vendor details - Sample sourcing/outreach where applicable - Brief recommendation notes on top picks per category How to Apply Please share: 1. Relevant experience in apparel sourcing/buying/merchandising 2. Examples of past manufacturer sourcing work (categories, MOQ ranges, DTC experience) 3. Your availability and estimated timeline for an initial shortlist 4. Your rate (hourly or project-based) please apply based on experience budget as advertised is negotiable.