How to Become a Fashion Merchandiser?

Fashion merchandising is the combination of the processes that a new fashion item must undergo to be available in mass quantities to the consumer after it is left the hands of the designer. To understand Fashion Merchandising, it is important to examine the role that it plays in manufacturing, buying, promoting and selling fashion items.
In regards to manufacturing, a fashion merchandiser will have significant input on the types of fabrics used to make a piece of clothing. Having a strong historical and socio-cultural understanding of the fabrics, helps change a designer’s vision into reality. By applying their knowledge about fabrics and clothing construction, a fashion merchandiser will take a designer’s piece and find the best way to manufacture the item while taking things like price and target market into consideration.

Fashion Merchandise

Buying becomes a part of Fashion Merchandise when a merchandiser buys fashion items to be presented in a store. A fashion merchandiser must be aware of the target market for the fashion item and must also be very well-versed in fashion trend analysis and forecasting. This allows for more accurate ordering. A fashion merchandiser working with a designer will offer expertise to the designer on textiles and fabrics.

If a fashion merchandiser is working for the designer then promoting the designer’s product to stores that may want to buy large quantities is a number one priority. Not only is a fashion merchandiser required to have a creative mind and strong visual merchandising skills but his or her production skills must be sharp as well.

Fashion merchandising promotes a designer’s items through the use of fashion shows where creativity and visual effects must capture the attention of potential buyers. Additionally, fashion merchandisers must seek out the target market for a designer’s clothing, such as children’s clothing stores, department stores or discount retailers.

Fashion Merchandising

The final component for fashion merchandising is selling. A fashion merchandiser that works with a designer is responsible for selling fashion items to stores, who then sells it to the consumer. The merchandiser must have an idea about forecasting and market trends so they may give their recommendation regarding the production of the item.

Creativity is important, because a merchandiser must offer suggestions on how to display the items within the store. When a fashion merchandiser works for a retail store, his or her responsibilities include buying and presenting fashion items within the store.

The Fashion Merchandising Courses at FDDI give real world understanding of the Retail Sector and prepare the students for a rewarding career in the Retail Sector.