Types of Fashion Jobs
The fashion industry requires many types of people and many positions in order to coordinate the entire process of creating new fashions and selling them in-store. These are some of the segments of the fashion industry that you can work in.
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Fashion Designer
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Designers start the fashion process with an idea or concept and turn it into sketches and clothing samples, often working a year in advance of when items will be in-store. Designers should know how to sew and construct a garment.
Technical Designer
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Technical designers refine and perfect the fit of all items. They provide factories with very specific instructions on how each garment should be constructed.
Planner
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Planners focus on the financial side of the fashion industry. They create sales plans for the season and determine when items should be promoted, while maintaining profitability.
Buyer
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The buyer selects merchandise for stores, ensuring that it is appropriate for, and will appeal to, the target customer. Buyers analyze historical sales data and look for new trends.
Sourcing/Production
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Once a buyer has placed an order, the sourcing and production teams work with the factory to negotiate costs and manage production. These teams are responsible for the product until the goods arrive at the store or distribution center.
Allocation
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Large chain stores typically employ allocators -- this group monitors unit sales by store and determines when to replenish goods and quantities of new items to ship. Allocators also analyze store trends and may help to determine when a location should be closed.
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