Becoming a fashion buyer is an exciting and competitive career path in the fashion industry. It’s a role that blends creativity with strategy, offering the chance to shape the collections of top brands and retailers. If you're looking to break into this space, understanding what recruiters are looking for is crucial. Here’s what you need to know to land your first role as a fashion buyer.
What Does a Fashion Buyer Do?
A fashion buyer is responsible for selecting and purchasing clothing and accessories that will be sold in retail stores or online platforms. They work closely with suppliers, analyse market trends, and ensure that the products they select meet the needs of their target consumers. It’s a dynamic role that requires both creative and analytical thinking to make decisions that impact sales and brand success.
Fashion buyers must stay on top of trends, negotiate with suppliers, manage inventory, and collaborate with marketing and design teams. Because of the strategic nature of the role, recruiters are looking for candidates who can balance both the artistic and business aspects of fashion.
Essential Skills for Fashion Buyers
To be successful as a fashion buyer, there are several key skills recruiters look for:
Trend Awareness and Fashion Knowledge
Fashion buyers must be in tune with current trends and consumer preferences. Recruiters want candidates who can spot emerging trends early and make purchasing decisions based on those insights. The ability to understand what customers want and translate that into a curated collection is crucial in this role.
Analytical Abilities
While creativity is important, buying is also a data-driven profession. Fashion buyers assess sales data, consumer behaviour, and market trends to predict demand and make well-informed purchasing choices. Being comfortable with numbers and having experience using tools like Google Analytics and retail software can give you a competitive edge.
Negotiation Skills
A large part of the job involves working with suppliers to secure the best deals for products. Recruiters value candidates who can demonstrate strong negotiation skills and the ability to maintain good relationships with suppliers while ensuring cost-effective purchases.
Organisational and Detail-Oriented
The buying process involves managing multiple tasks simultaneously, from placing orders to monitoring stock levels. A successful buyer must have excellent organisational skills and an eye for detail. Recruiters seek individuals who can juggle various aspects of the role efficiently and effectively.
Communication Skills
Fashion buyers collaborate with many different teams—designers, sales, marketing, and suppliers—so strong communication skills are essential. Being able to clearly present ideas, negotiate terms, and ensure that buying strategies align with brand goals is a key requirement.
Building Experience in Fashion Buying
While formal education in fashion or retail management can be beneficial, practical experience is often just as important. Many buyers start out as buying assistants or in retail roles to gain hands-on experience with the buying process. Internships are another great way to break into the industry, providing exposure to the buying team and helping you build a network of professional connections.
Freelance roles or experience in merchandising and product development can also be valuable in developing the skills needed for a successful buying career.
Networking and Staying Connected
Fashion is a highly networked industry, and recruiters are always on the lookout for candidates who actively engage with the fashion community. Attending industry events, following relevant professionals on LinkedIn, and staying informed about the latest trends and job openings can help you build connections and stay top of mind for recruiters.
Final Thoughts
Breaking into fashion buying requires a mix of creativity, analytical thinking, and strong business acumen. Recruiters want candidates who are trend-aware, data-driven, and skilled at negotiating with suppliers. Gaining experience through internships, entry-level positions, or freelance work is essential in developing the skills needed to succeed.
At u&i, we specialise in connecting fashion talent with top opportunities in the industry. If you’re ready to take the next step in your career as a fashion buyer, get in touch with us to explore your options and receive expert guidance.
