Hi, everyone! I'm looking for a highly skilled individual to help build out a Shopify store using a website that's already in place. I lead development for my company and we're looking to create an online "Linen Shop" that allows customers to place orders through the website for pick up in store. This isn't an ongoing project but a one time build out with listings that can be duplicated/copied and easily changed in house based on the items we decide to stock.

Please comment below with your email and I will be in touch with you! Timeline is ASAP :)

Freelance Soft Goods Designer / Engineer

Project Type: Freelance / Contract / Remote

International Applicants Encouraged

About The Project

We are developing a soft goods product designed for residential laundry and textile handling applications. The product must combine industrial durability, usability, compact storage, washability, and scalable manufacturing considerations into a production-ready solution.

We are looking for an experienced soft goods designer, product developer, or sewn products engineer to collaborate with us through multiple phases of development — from concept refinement through prototype development and manufacturing coordination.

The ideal candidate understands how to bridge design, manufacturing, material selection, and problem solving.

The candidate has experience developing:

• Bags
• Roll-top or expandable products
• Sewn industrial products
• Commercial textile products
• Outdoor gear
• Utility/storage systems
• Washable soft goods
• Technical sewn products

Experience working directly with overseas manufacturers in China, Vietnam, or similar regions is highly preferred.

Project Overview

The product being developed is a highly functional soft goods design intended to:

• Stand upright independently during loading and unloading
• Collapse or store compactly when not in use
• Accommodate varying load sizes efficiently (up to 25 pounds of linens)
• Prioritize durability and long-term commercial use
• Be compatible with repeated washing and drying cycles

We are particularly interested in designers who can help collaborate through:

• Structural strategies & material selection
• Efficient construction methods & user ergonomics
• Washability and maintenance considerations
• Prototypes & manufacturing-ready detailing

The current direction includes concepts inspired by:

• Roll-top expansion systems
• Origami/folding structural concepts
• Semi-rigid soft goods construction
• Commercial utility bags and handling systems

Scope of Work

Phase 1 — Concept Development

Focus Areas:

• Product architecture and construction direction
• Design refinement
• Functional problem solving
• Material and reinforcement strategy
• Durability considerations
• Usability and workflow optimization
• Cost-conscious manufacturing considerations
• Early manufacturing feasibility review

Deliverables may include:

• Sketches
• CAD concepts
• Construction direction
• Material recommendations
• Functional detailing
• Design review iterations

Phase 2 — Technical Development & Prototype Preparation

Focus Areas:

• Technical design development
• Detailed construction specifications
• Material and trim specifications
• Prototype-ready documentation
• Patterning guidance
• Manufacturing communication support
• Hardware and reinforcement recommendations
• Cost optimization for production

Deliverables may include:

• Tech packs
• Construction callouts
• BOM recommendations
• Manufacturing notes
• Prototype specifications
• Material sourcing recommendations

Phase 3 — Validation & Manufacturing Support

Focus Areas:

• Prototype iteration support
• Functional validation
• Manufacturing refinement
• Production feedback implementation
• Coordination with overseas factories
• Sample review support
• Production readiness consultation

Strong preference for candidates with:

• Existing overseas manufacturing relationships
• Experience coordinating with factories in China or Vietnam
• Experience preparing products for scalable manufacturing

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience with soft goods and sewn product development
• Understands both design and manufacturing constraints
• Can think strategically about durability and scalability
• Has experience with commercial or industrial-use products
• Is highly communicative and collaborative
• Is comfortable working remotely
• Can provide examples of past soft goods work
• Understands production cost considerations
• Can contribute beyond aesthetics into real functional engineering

Bonus Experience:

• Outdoor gear
• Commercial laundry products
• Travel gear
• Utility systems
• Technical textiles
• Industrial product development
• Factory sourcing and overseas production management

Required Application Information

Please include the following in your message:

1. Portfolio or examples of relevant soft goods projects
2. Description of your role in those projects
3. Experience with overseas manufacturing coordination
4. Experience creating tech packs and production documentation
5. Availability and estimated timeline capacity
6. Hourly rate or preferred project pricing structure
7. Country/location

Thank you!