Student Research Intern, Textile

About Fjord Outerwear Inc.

Fjord Outerwear Inc. is an early stage performance apparel start-up dedicated to redefining how people interact with advanced materials. Rooted in a commitment to innovation, environmental responsibility, and functional design, Fjord is building outerwear that reflects the realities of modern adventure - where performance, transparency, and sustainability must coexist.

Our mission is simple:
make advanced material innovation accessible to everyday consumers

We believe consumers deserve to understand the textiles they wear, the technologies behind them, and the impact they make. Too often, material knowledge is confined to industry insiders, labs, or technical product teams. Fjord aims to change that by pairing high-performance outerwear with education and transparency.

What we're looking for

Fjord Outerwear Inc. is seeking a
Student Research Intern, Textile & Material Intelligence (Winter 2026)

to join our Toronto team to support in research initiatives to develop a first-of-its-kind Material Intelligence Platform, a digital tool designed to demystify the world of performance textiles. Our platform blends consumer education, data-driven material insights, and sustainability reporting to transform how people understand functional apparel.

This internship is an opportunity to join a growing start-up working at the intersection of
textile innovation, sustainability, and material intelligence
. The intern will support research efforts that help demystify advanced materials for consumers, designers, and emerging brands.

Success in this role looks like:

• Producing clear, accurate research on how textiles are evaluated and tested
• Delivering a final report that outlines the landscape of advanced materials, performance testing, and sustainability frameworks
• Helping build the foundation for our consumer-facing AI material education platform
• Working independently, meeting deadlines, and contributing to a collaborative start-up environment

This role is essential to shaping our material knowledge ecosystem and strengthening our leadership in Canada's textile innovation space.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on textile performance evaluation, including waterproofness, breathability, durability, and thermal regulation.
• Review and summarize standards such as AATCC, ASTM, and ISO related to textile and membrane testing.
• Analyze sustainability frameworks, including PFAS-free chemistry, recyclability, circularity, and environmental impact reporting.
• Produce structured reports that explain how advanced materials are evaluated within the industry.
• Develop clear, accessible material summaries and data sheets for integration into our AI material platform.
• Translate technical, academic, and scientific information into consumer-friendly language.
• Present findings to the team and contribute to a growing internal knowledge base.
• Collaborate with team members to support ongoing research and product initiatives as needed.

Qualifications

Skills

• Strong research, analytical, and writing abilities
• Ability to synthesize complex technical information clearly and accurately
• Comfortable working independently and managing multiple tasks
• Curiosity about functional textiles, sustainability, and material science

Education

• Currently pursuing a
  Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD
  in:
• Textile Science / Textile Engineering
• Materials Science
• Chemistry or Polymer Science
• Environmental Science
• Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, or related disciplines)
• Industrial/Product/Fashion Design with a technical focus

Experience (Assets, not requirements)

• Prior coursework or project work related to textile testing, sustainability, or materials evaluation
• Familiarity with testing standards such as AATCC, ASTM, and ISO
• Experience producing research papers, technical reports, or literature reviews

Other

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Commitment to sustainability, innovation, and transparency in textiles
• Interest in contributing to Canada's textile innovation ecosystem

Why This Role Matters

This 6-month internship offers the chance to join a dynamic start-up, contribute to emerging innovations in Canada's textile landscape, and play a meaningful role in advancing sustainable textile reporting. Your work will directly support our mission to make advanced material knowledge accessible to consumers and design leaders alike.