How to Become a Fashion Buyer

Learn more about how to enter this innovative, exciting, and rewarding career.

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Are you a passionate innovator with a keen eye for detail, excellent communication skills, and a talent for forecasting fashion trends? In that case, you should learn how to become a fashion buyer. A career in fashion buying is a fantastic choice if you're creative and possess exceptional business acumen as well as great analytical and problem-solving skills.

As a fashion buyer, you'll play a critical role in determining which clothing and accessories make it onto store shelves and into the hands of consumers. It's an exciting, progressive, and rewarding career, and your buying decisions will significantly impact the success of a retail store or wholesaler.

A career in fashion buying could be the perfect fit if you love to travel. You'll typically have to make business trips to meet with manufacturers and wholesalers, participate in trade shows, and travel to other stores. Networking, relationship-building, and negotiation will also be a part of your everyday life, so you'll need excellent people skills to succeed.

As the fashion industry constantly evolves, with new innovative trends emerging all the time, there's never been a better time to start your career. And if you’re passionate about your work, there are plenty of opportunities for growth. You could eventually advance to a senior buyer or buying director with the proper training and experience.

So, what does it take to enter the fashion industry as a clothing buyer? Read on to find out how to become a buyer and where to find all the best jobs.

What is a Fashion Buyer?

A fashion buyer selects and purchases apparel and accessories for retail stores or fashion companies. They use their knowledge of fashion trends, consumer preferences, and retail sales data to decide which products to buy, at what quantities and prices.

Fashion buyers typically work for retailers, department stores, or fashion companies. Their job involves working closely with designers, manufacturers, and merchandisers to ensure that the products they select meet the needs and expectations of their target customers.

What Does a Fashion Buyer Do?

In this role, you'll typically work with a team of buyers at different levels as well as with designers and merchandisers. You'll have a diverse portfolio of responsibilities depending on the company, brand, and location that you work for, some of which include:

  • Staying up-to-date with the latest fashion trends and anticipating which trends will be popular with your target customers.
  • Selecting which products to sell in the store based on your knowledge of customer preferences, sales data, and fashion trends.
  • Managing budgets for purchasing products and negotiating with suppliers to get the best possible deals.
  • Working with suppliers and vendors to ensure products are delivered on time and meet quality standards.
  • Managing inventory levels and making sure that there is enough stock to meet customer demand without overstocking.
  • Using data to predict sales trends and adjust inventory levels accordingly.
  • Working with visual merchandisers to create product displays and promotions that appeal to customers.
  • Ensuring profit and growth for the company.

Take a look at our sample buyer job description for more details on what your position as a buyer position could entail.

How to Become a Fashion Buyer

While it's possible to become a fashion buyer without a degree, many employers prefer candidates with a bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising, business, marketing, or a related field. Look for programs that offer fashion buying, trend forecasting, retail management, and fashion merchandising courses.

Consider getting an internship or entry-level position in retail, fashion merchandising, or fashion design to gain valuable experience and build a network of contacts in the industry. It's also essential to stay up-to-date with fashion trends, and retail industry news, attend trade shows, network with industry professionals, and read industry publications. Developing a strong understanding of your target customer and the competition helps you make informed product selection and inventory management decisions.

You can advance your career by engaging in continued education, professional certifications, and participating in industry associations such as the American Purchasing Society (APS) and the National Retail Federation (NRF). You might also consider pursuing a master's degree in fashion merchandising or earning a professional certification, such as the Certified Fashion Buyer designation from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

However, your journey through how to become a fashion buyer requires more than acquiring an education. You'll also need a combination of technical and soft skills to excel in this role, such as:

  • fashion knowledge
  • analytical skills
  • creativity
  • ability to negotiate
  • budget management
  • attention to detail
  • excellent communication
  • problem-solving

How Much Does a Fashion Buyer Make?

Your fashion buyer salary will vary depending on your employer and experience level. The median salary for a general buyer position is $51,307, with an earning potential of $71,404.

Your salary also depends on where you live. Use Monster's Salary Tool to determine how much you can make as a fashion buyer in your area. You'll also see earnings for similar jobs, plus the skills you'll need to advance your career.

How To Find Fashion Buyer Jobs

Now that we've shown you how to become a fashion buyer, it’s time to start looking for fashion buyer jobs. But before you apply, make sure you've updated your buyer resume along with your cover letter explaining your passion and motivation for choosing your career as a fashion buyer.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the top five states with the highest employment level of buyers and purchasing agents are:

The top five metro areas with high demand for buyers and purchasing agents are:

Fit Yourself with a Successful Career as a Fashion Buyer

After learning how to become a fashion buyer, it's time tocreate your Monster profile. Make sure to upload your resume so recruiters and hiring managers can contact you with jobs requiring your skills and experience. We'll also send you custom job alerts, so you always know when a fashion buyer position becomes available in your area. Plus, you can access expert career advice articles to help you find a job that fits like a glove.