Fashion Blog

Have you ever wondered what kind of careers you can pursue with a degree from a fashion institute? One incredibly fulfilling and often overlooked career choice is fashion buying. A fashion buyer is responsible for the products that a given company sells. They oversee the development of apparel, which is usually targeted towards a particular market and price range. Depending on how big the company is, there might be one fashion buyer or a team of fashion buyers responsible for the merchandise that the company will carry. To perform this job well, buyers must possess a serious intuition when it comes to fashion trends, as well as adequate people skills to maintain good relationships with suppliers. This job is an especially good choice for young fashion school graduates, since young people are generally the ones who are always updated with the latest fashion trends, and looking to climb up the fashion industry ladder.

A typical fashion buyer works with clothing suppliers, reviewing their provided apparel and selecting the proper pieces for the season, store and target market. Often, this part of the job requires deciding on a balance between current fashion trends and classic, traditional pieces. It is imperative that a successful buyer maintains positive interpersonal relationships with suppliers, in order to negotiate prices with them and make sure that their stocks will be delivered on time.

Another important challenge that fashion buyers will face is the idea of thinking ahead. It is not enough to succeed in the fashion industry with knowledge of current trends. In fact, buyers must surpass this knowledge with a keen fashion intuition. It is usually buyers that help to create new trends because they are responsible for what you see on the front racks at boutiques and department stores. Buyers must decide on seasonal trends up to six months before they hit the stores. In order to succeed at this part of the job, you must bring your own creativity and passion to your selections, while at the same time making sure you are selling wearable, comfortable, functional clothes for everyday people.

If the idea of a career in fashion buying is something that excites you, there is no reason not to actively pursue your goal. Often, companies looking for buyers prefer job candidates with fashion merchandising or fashion design college degrees. Retail experience in fashion can also give you that extra bit of experience that will help land you the job. Ultimately, it will be your passion for fashion and your level of professionalism that will launch your dream fashion buying career.