How to Become a Fabric Merchandiser

The fashion industry involves the design, manufacturing and merchandising of apparel. When you become a fabric merchandiser, you will be responsible for the allocation and merchandising of fabric. The job requires several years of education, experience in the fashion world and excellent negotiating and "people" skills.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Attend fashion and design school. Make sure that you study subjects like merchandise marketing, textile design, textile processes, textile techniques and garment manufacturing. You can become a fabric merchandiser with an Associate degree, but it is a highly competitive field and a Bachelor's degree would likely give you an edge over your competition.

2. Spend a few years working and getting experience in various aspects of the fashion and design industry. When you apply to become a fabric merchandiser, some employers may ask for several years of experience in woven fabric, garment manufacturing experience and experience in handling fabric defect problems.

3. Become a fabric expert. Know everything there is to know about wool, cotton, silk, linen, hemp, ramie and jute. Be familiar with the different types of weaves.

4. Be open to traveling if you become a fabric merchandiser. Fabric merchandising is an international business. Most fabric is sourced overseas in countries like China, Pakistan and India because of the low cost.

5. Consider moving overseas to work as a fabric merchandiser. That's where the fabric is, and you'll likely be spending a good deal of your time in foreign countries anyway.

6. Learn a foreign language. Since the chances are that you'll be dealing with Chinese, Pakistani and Indian manufacturers and brokers on a daily basis, you should be able to speak at least one of these languages.

7. Prepare to attend graduate school if you want to work for a large international firm. Many require that applicants have a Master of Textiles degree.

8. Focus on your negotiating skills. A fabric merchandiser will spend a great deal of time sourcing fabric. That necessitates that you negotiate and develop strong connections with suppliers and deal with fabric mill.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to market your special skills to prospective employers, such as a history of travel, international business contacts, the ability to speak another language and a business or military background.
• If you like a 9-to-5 routine, hate globe-trotting and detest foreign food, fabric merchandising may not be the career for you. This job often requires a lot of traveling and independent negotiation overseas.

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