CAREER IN FASHION BUSINESS MANAGEMENT ?

What exactly is fashion management? This is a question that is often asked by fashion aspirants wishing to enter the industry. To answer this, one has to understand that fashion is a diversified field, from glamour to business operations. Aside from the glamour of the fashion industry is the operations of it – the ones who run the business of the designers and their brands. And this is what Fashion Management is really all about. It encompasses the understanding of marketing, sales, purchase, and inventory management, thus, giving an overall understanding of how the fashion industry actually works.

In brief, here’s what you’ll learn in fashion management:

• Building Brand Image
• Marketing Management
• Merchandising Management
• Management of Fashion Products
• Planning and Promotion of Fashion Business
• Design Development
• Dynamics of e-Commerce
• Global Merchandising Strategies (to name a few)

One of the perks of studying Fashion Management is that students are given the opportunities to learn outside of the classroom, including:

• Field trips to corporate offices of major fashion houses
• Internships with major fashion companies
• Extracurricular activities including organising and/or coordinating runway shows

The best part is, pursuing this course does not require you to have a specific background in art, design, or fashion! You can pursue a Fashion Management degree as a qualification in Arts, Science, and/or MBA.

One thing that remains constant is that the fashion industry has shifted and will continue to shift to the digital space, and consumers will continue to champion fairness and social justice.

So, the question if a course in fashion management is relevant or not is a given ‘yes, absolutely!’. Here’s a look at a few of the job prospects a degree in Fashion Management will open up for you. So you can find a reason, why really study fashion.

Also Read: MBA in Supply Chain Management: Guide for Indian Students in 2022

#1 Fashion Stylist

Average Salary (in $):$15.36 per hour

Profile: This is one of the highest-paying jobs in the fashion management industry and one of the most interesting ones too. As a fashion stylist, here’s what you’ll do:

• Plan and coordinate outfits for your client/s
• Select clothing for ad campaigns, photoshoots, teleshows and/or film productions
• Attend runways to keep up with the trend
• Source clothing from brands

There are different types of stylists, i.e., personal stylists, e-commerce/online stylists, still life stylists, and product stylists among others.

#2 Merchandising Manager

Average Salary: $58,093 per year

Profile: This is a first-level manager and plays a pivotal role. A (fashion) merchandising manager makes important decisions on stock, prices, purchases, and marketing by studying the consumers and the market. Other job responsibilities include:

• Maintaining a store’s visual appearance
• Co-ordinate sales promotions
• Check inventory levels
• Monitor retail prices for competitors

#3 Brand Manager

Average salary:$72,453 per year

Profile: A brand is as good as its manager which is why this is an important profile. As a brand manager, the job responsibilities include:

• Staying updated on market trends
• Making strategies to attract and retain customers
• Making investment decisions based on customer’s behaviour
• Managing brand communication used in various media
• Developing, implementing, and executing marketing initiatives and activities

#4 Creative Director

Average salary: $109,013 per year

Profile: This is a people-oriented job as a creative designer that deals with internal as well as external clients. The typical duties/responsibilities of a creative director include:

• Develop design concepts
• Maintain quality control over concepts and projects
• Generate ideas for pitching and proposals by coordinating with the internal team
• Generate multiple concepts (for a campaign/project)
• Manage projects from concept through completion

#5E-Commerce manager

Average salary: $68,794 per year

Profile: Being an e-Commerce Manager means that one should be able to work at irregular work hours given the 24/7 nature of online shopping. But, with eCommerce continuing to dominate the fashion market, this will become a vital job in the industry. Job responsibilities include:

• Oversee and manage the eCommerce department to create a significant online presence.
• Research and develop new online marketing strategies
• Plan e-marketing expenditures
• Maximize search engine traffic
• Ensure that the format and features of the website are easy to navigate to maximize clarity

The fashion industry offers a lucrative career where you have the opportunity to combine your interests in business and fashion, and excel. Here’s a look at a few of the top institutes offering a Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Fashion Management:

As you can see, there are plenty of jobs in the fashion management industry and a good salary to earn. So definitely take this path into consideration.