Colorist

The Role

**Textile Colorist **

The role at Quince is responsible for the precise development, matching, and management of color across all stages of textile production — from initial design concept to final bulk manufacturing. Their work ensures that every finished product meets the designer's vision and Quince's brand standards for premium quality at accessible prices.

The role blends technical expertise with aesthetic judgment and strong communication skills, acting as a crucial link between design, production, and global suppliers.

Responsibilities

Color Development and Formulation

• Partner with dye houses and mills to optimize dyeing processes across multiple substrate types (cotton, cashmere, linen, synthetics, blends, and leather).
• Explore and pilot sustainable color alternatives, including plant-based dyes, low-impact pigments, and water-saving dyeing technologies.

Color Evaluation and Approval

• Evaluate lab dips (small samples) and bulk production runs to approve or reject them based on color accuracy and consistency.
• Use both visual assessment (trained eye) and instrumental methods — spectrophotometers, light booths, and color management software — to ensure colors fall within strict ΔE tolerance limits.
• Monitor and approve color consistency across different materials, production lots, and product categories (apparel, bags, footwear, accessories).
• Lead blind color panels with design, merchandising, and customer focus groups to validate luxury color perception before commercialization.

Maintaining Color Standards and Data

• Build and maintain comprehensive color libraries, digital databases, and physical standards for each season and collection.
• Manage tools like Pantone references, tracking charts, continuity books, and PLM records to ensure consistency across all product components (fabrics, trims, zippers, hardware).
• Assign unique color IDs with associated metadata: dye formulation, substrate compatibility, Lab values, ΔE tolerance, fastness ratings, cost tier, and MOQ.
• Establish a "retired colors" archive to preserve historical references and prevent costly re-development of discontinued shades.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the central point of communication for all color-related matters, providing technical expertise and clear direction to design, product development, and production teams.
• Communicate daily with domestic and overseas mills, dye houses, and suppliers to give precise, actionable feedback on color samples and troubleshoot issues in real time.
• Translate design and merchandising color visions into clear, manufacturable technical briefs for suppliers.

Quality Assurance and Troubleshooting

• Ensure color performs as intended across real-world use cases by monitoring for quality issues such as:
  • Side-to-side shading and batch-to-batch variation
  • Metamerism (colors matching under one light source but not another)
  • Fastness failures (fading or bleeding after washing, rubbing, light exposure, or perspiration)
• Investigate and resolve shade variations and batch discrepancies that arise during production, working closely with suppliers to implement corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement in color quality and consistency across the entire supply chain.

Qualifications

Required

• Degree in Textile Chemistry, Color Science, Dyeing Engineering, Material Science, Fashion Merchandising, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in color development, dyeing, or coloration for apparel, accessories, footwear, or home textiles.
• Deep knowledge of dye classes (acid, reactive, disperse, pigment, direct, vat), dyeing methods (exhaust, pad, garment-dye, space-dye), and substrate-specific color behavior (cellulosics, protein fibers, synthetics, blends).
• Strong cost analysis skills: dye utilization %, color yield %, batch consistency, and landed cost modeling.
• Experience working cross-functionally with design, production, and sourcing teams in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining color libraries, including SKU rationalization and shade consolidation.
• High color acuity — proven ability to pass tests like the Farnsworth Munsell 100-hue test (or equivalent).

Preferred

• Certification or deep familiarity with color measurement systems (spectrophotometry, Datacolor, X-Rite, CIELAB) and digital color communication.
• Experience with sustainable or natural dyes (e.g., plant-based, low-impact, waterless, or bio-based dyeing technologies).
• Knowledge of supply chain traceability for dyestuffs and chemicals.
• Mandarin, Italian, or Spanish language skills for dye house and mill communication.
• Familiarity with PLM systems and color database management.
• Background in luxury goods (apparel, handbags, or accessories) with an eye for premium color aesthetics and trend forecasting.