Follow your passion for fashion: discover fashion merchandising careers

Do you spend hours reading fashion magazines and watching fashion shows? Are you always at the fabric store checking out the latest fabrics and materials? Do you truly enjoy learning about the history of fashion? If so, you should consider pursuing a fashion merchandising degree.

Fashion merchandising professionals are responsible for spotting the latest fashion trends. They often decide what clothing is produced each season, and they also determine retail inventories and prices. Fashion merchandisers have their finger on the pulse of fashion at all times.

So what kinds of positions should you look for once you've obtained a fashion merchandising degree? Here are a few career opportunities in the field:

Fashion buyer

Fashion buyers can work for department stores, boutiques, independent retailers and other fashion-oriented establishments. These are the people who actually buy new clothing and accessories for the store. In order to do this job successfully, fashion buyers must really understand their target market and have a solid grasp on what they like. They also need to keep their stores up-to-date and organized at all times.

Product developer

Product developers work closely with fashion merchandisers to develop clothing, shoe and accessory lines. They assist with fabric selection and are responsible for creating design prototypes. To be a product designer, you need to have strong design, math and fashion forecasting skills.

Fashion event planner

Fashion event planners generate buzz for a store or brand. They accomplish this by organizing events such as fashion shows, trunk shows or other social events. Fashion event planners are also responsible for hiring models, organizing event promotions and deciding what fashions or accessories will be featured during each event.

If these positions sound interesting to you, you should take some fashion merchandising classes. Once you've taken a few classes, you'll have a greater understanding of the industry and will be able to determine if you'd like to turn your interest into a career.

Information in this article was provided by the International Academy of Design %26 Technology - Schaumburg. Contact IADT - Schaumburg today if you're interested in developing marketable knowledge and career-relevant skills with an industry-current degree program. (IADT - Schaumburg does not guarantee employment or salary.)

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