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Fashion Buying
If i wanted to be a fashion buyer what qualifications do i need. My teacher told me something in Economics would be good, and you would need a minimum of a GCSE pass in art. Im really confused as to what do. Would i need a degree in art, fashion, economics 
?! Help 
?! Help Reply 1
One of my friends is a buyer at Tescos! Which includes clothes. She has a degree in business studies. A lot of the work is business related so I think a business-type degree would be most helpful, with an interest in art/fashion.
Reply 2
babyballerina
One of my friends is a buyer at Tescos! Which includes clothes. She has a degree in business studies. A lot of the work is business related so I think a business-type degree would be most helpful, with an interest in art/fashion.
thank you
thats what she said...its more 'businessy' im not sure what i want to do when i grow up.Reply 3
Yep, a business degree is highly desirable. Although you can actually do a degree in fashion buying/management I think.
Reply 4
happysunshine
Yep, a business degree is highly desirable. Although you can actually do a degree in fashion buying/management I think.
How far do you have to go with art?
Reply 5
ThornsnRoses
How far do you have to art?
I don't understand the question?
But anyway, I'll talk some more about the career. Lots of good work experience is a must as with all fashion industry jobs it's HUGELY competitive. So contacts and work experience are very useful. I guess having some artistic talent is important, A-Level Art/Textiles/Graphics would probably show this. Oooh, and a saturday job in Topshop would be very helpful.
Reply 6
sorry i meant. would you need an Art a-level or something.
Reply 7
ThornsnRoses
sorry i meant. would you need an Art a-level or something.
No you wouldn't, I've read time and time again a business degree is the most important. But to be honest, I can't see them employing someone with no creativity skills or no idea/interest in fashion so I guess taking Art or something would be a good idea.
My parents own thier own fashion company so I got a bit of knowledge on this one. Plus my sister is thinking of doing this (or designing) she's only at GCSE but has chosen Maths, English Lit, French and Fashion & Textiles for AS Level. Although I think she has chosen them as she enjoys them rather than because they are necessity.
I think you should definately try and get work exp a.s.a.p. with anything fashion related try getting a sales job at fashion shows perhaps (London, B'ham and Harrogate are probably your best bets), try and get as many contacts as possible along the way.
As for a degree there's no specific discipline to follow but I would guess Business Studies would be a good place to start. However I know someone who went to Harrods as a trainee straight after A-Levels completed a training course and was head-buyer of womens wear by the age of 21, he kept in touch with the Harrods people and now works for his parents company and makes loads by supplying his mates at Harrods.
I think you should definately try and get work exp a.s.a.p. with anything fashion related try getting a sales job at fashion shows perhaps (London, B'ham and Harrogate are probably your best bets), try and get as many contacts as possible along the way.
As for a degree there's no specific discipline to follow but I would guess Business Studies would be a good place to start. However I know someone who went to Harrods as a trainee straight after A-Levels completed a training course and was head-buyer of womens wear by the age of 21, he kept in touch with the Harrods people and now works for his parents company and makes loads by supplying his mates at Harrods.
Reply 9
Well im taking Maths, Economics, History and either Art or Physics or English Literature depending on my results. I originally wanted to do Art History as my 4th Alevel, but was advised against. Im not entirely sure on a career in fashion buying, im wavering a little. There maybe a possibilty of being a fashion editor/journalist. I know that Hala Gorani at CNN has a degree in Economics and is a Design journalist.
Currently im looking for a partime job at gap, it looks promising, sort of.
HappySunshine...didnt you want a career in fashion buying, what are you doing for alevels.
Thank you all for your help
Currently im looking for a partime job at gap, it looks promising, sort of.
HappySunshine...didnt you want a career in fashion buying, what are you doing for alevels.
Thank you all for your help
Reply 10
ThornsnRoses
HappySunshine...didnt you want a career in fashion buying, what are you doing for alevels.
HappySunshine...didnt you want a career in fashion buying, what are you doing for alevels.
I probably said so once, I change my career ideas as often as I change my underwear!
AS-Levels: English Lit/Lang... haven't decided yet, but tbh don't really want to do this. History, maths and sociology. I want to do textiles though very badly, if I do well in the GCSE I will probably end up doing it, and maybe I'll end up in fashion too. Although right now I have a teaching career as my favourite.
Reply 13
Lord Huntroyde
Once a month whether you need to or not?
Ha Ha, I'm not dirty... eww... females are far cleaner than males, every day needs a new pair.
Reply 14
jumpunderaboat
...except February, that would be wasteful.
Ha Ha, sick people!
Reply 15
happysunshine
I probably said so once, I change my career ideas as often as I change my underwear!
i dont know whether that implies you change your career options a lot, or you don't change your underwear
But yeah...im pretty indecisive.Oh if you fancy going into fashion journalism I suggest you start gathering a portfolio as of now, if you write any decent articles for student/school mags or even essays you are particularly proud of. As far as I know this will hold you in good stead even if you don't take a degree specifically related to the subject. If I were you I'd just keep A-Level options as open as possible, then the world is your oyster.
ThornsnRoses
If i wanted to be a fashion buyer what qualifications do i need. My teacher told me something in Economics would be good, and you would need a minimum of a GCSE pass in art. Im really confused as to what do. Would i need a degree in art, fashion, economics ?! Help
?! Help I was having this same conversation with one of the women who buys for The Miss Shop which is a department of Myer-Grace Brothers, where I work.
She said she did a degree in Business/Advertising and after did a fashion postgrad. degree. She then after a while had interview with other ocmpanies before getting a job at Myer-Grace and worked her way up.
Reply 18
I worked for House of Fraser in the buying and merchandising dept a couple of years ago as an allocator (bottom rung of the merchandising ladder) and desperately wanted to move over to the buying side.
I had a degree in Business studies and was 23 years old. Their policy was only to employ graduates in a fashion or textiles related subjects. Obviously this is just one employer, and quite a prestigious one so they can afford to be picky, but New Look, Arcadia (Top Shop, Wallis, Evans) etc require some sort of fashion qualification.
I now work at The Arts Institute of Bournemouth (retail sucked, but don't let my opinion put you off), where we offer a BA (Hons) degree in Fashion Studies. This would set you up to do buying, journalism, PR, as well as design.
To get onto this course you would require a Foundation Diploma in Art and design, which included a Fashion and Textiles pathway (yes we offer this at AIB too), although to get into a lesser institution this might not be neccesary.
You need to have at least two a-levels and if your ultimate goal is fashion buying I would suggest that these included fashion, and art/design related subject and another subject such as business studies, history, english, psychology or history of art.
Basically unless you have a fashion qualification, forget working as a fashion buyer for a decent shop. It is seriously competitive these days and they would employ someone with a fashion background over a business background without batting an eyelid.
Have a look at our website - www.aib.ac.uk and see what you think of the ba hons fashion studies courses. If we're too far away from you then there are plenty of similar courses available - you need to look for fashion studies/fashion with business which are fairly broadbased courses that set you up for any aspect of employment within the fashion world.
Hope this helps
Jenny
I had a degree in Business studies and was 23 years old. Their policy was only to employ graduates in a fashion or textiles related subjects. Obviously this is just one employer, and quite a prestigious one so they can afford to be picky, but New Look, Arcadia (Top Shop, Wallis, Evans) etc require some sort of fashion qualification.
I now work at The Arts Institute of Bournemouth (retail sucked, but don't let my opinion put you off), where we offer a BA (Hons) degree in Fashion Studies. This would set you up to do buying, journalism, PR, as well as design.
To get onto this course you would require a Foundation Diploma in Art and design, which included a Fashion and Textiles pathway (yes we offer this at AIB too), although to get into a lesser institution this might not be neccesary.
You need to have at least two a-levels and if your ultimate goal is fashion buying I would suggest that these included fashion, and art/design related subject and another subject such as business studies, history, english, psychology or history of art.
Basically unless you have a fashion qualification, forget working as a fashion buyer for a decent shop. It is seriously competitive these days and they would employ someone with a fashion background over a business background without batting an eyelid.
Have a look at our website - www.aib.ac.uk and see what you think of the ba hons fashion studies courses. If we're too far away from you then there are plenty of similar courses available - you need to look for fashion studies/fashion with business which are fairly broadbased courses that set you up for any aspect of employment within the fashion world.
Hope this helps
Jenny
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