Critical studies over PPD1 beings...

Now on a monday afternoon replacing critical studies is PPD1 sessions. Today we were taught by Ian, and we were put in pairs to research a particular job that was in the fashion industry. We looked at fashion Buyers. All pairs then had to present the research they had found out about the job and also a A3 mood board of images relevant to the job assigned to you. so heres what i found out about fashion buyers....

Fashion Buyers

Traditionally buyers have to be more visually creative often skilled in both garment construction and design, now thought I.T analytical and negotiation skills are considered equally important for both.

A job of a buyer varies from company to company according to the type of business e.g.

 stocking the store with well known brands of designer clothing (womenswear buyer at Selfridges)

Whereas a buyer for a multiple retail brand such as Topshop, will be responsible for overseeing the complete product development process before arranging delivery of the finished products.

Similarly the owner of a boutique or independent clothes retailer will also be involved in buying stock often from wholesales to sell in their shop.

Other facts about a fashion buyer...

They decide on the styles to be bought and negotiates production with suppliers.

A well established fashion buyer can earn between £40,000- £70,000 a year depending on the size of the company, But you will nearly always have to start at the bottom of the ladder and work your way up, interns or P.A'S will be on a basic rate of £12,000 to start with.

Different jobs within the Fashion Buyers role - 

Buyers Admin Assistant

Assistant Buyer

Junior Buyer

Buyer

Head Of Buying

Good Points about the Fashion Buying job -

*Extensive travel to worldwide destinations

*working closely with many other areas/sectors of a business for example Fashion Merchandisers, Garment technologists, Imports & Exports, Suppliers, Fashion designers in house, Retail Branch Managers.

Bad Pints about Fashion Buying job -

*Away alot, not home always moving to were you can get work, or needed to work.

*Lots of responsibility, If you choose the wrong line or items to invest a lot of money on that don't sell its on your head!

*Constantly you mind is on the job, You work will not stop in normal office hours!

Listening to other presentations heres some other information i found out about jobs within the Fashion industry 

Product Developer

A product developer would oversea the whole designing process from initial designing to the clothing actually being in the shops. side line jobs that are included in a product developers job. Marketing, Fashion forecasting, suppliers, invloved in retailing the product.

A junior salary would tend to start at between 15,000-20,000 and a fully trained and working product developer between 30,000-70,000

Processes involved with a product developer 

1. Planning a line

2. Creating the design concept

3. Developing designs

4. Planning production

5. Production

6. Distribution the line.

Fashion Photographer

This involves always being at the top of your game, being aware of new alternative ways of taking photos, new technology, new techniques etc. Its free lance work so only the photographers at the top of there game get work.

Its competitive and exciting getting to travel to often exotic places to take shoots, working in lighting studios, Shoots on show, skin tones, film and digital photography.

A junior photographer would earn between 12,000-20,000 a year and a senior photographer could earn up to 50,000 a year.

Some disadvantages to the job are irregular  and insociable hours. working outdoors with un predictable weather conditions which may deter you from being able to capture photos you want.

Advantages to the job are lots of traveling be it locally or abroad.

Other people you will have to work with if you are a photographer are stylists, hair stylists, models, companies. Free lance photographers can earn £150-£600 per day.

Fashion PR    Public relations / Personal Relations

Salary ranges from 10,000 - 50,000

Fashion PR tasks include Appeal companies to retail stores, build and maintain a favorable public image. Because they do not have to pay for publicity or media coverage.

jobs within PR Promotions Assistants- Public relations specialists to public relations co-ordinator to director of public relations

Perks of the job are free clothes,shoes,accessories and other fashion related produce.

Other jobs you may have to do is preventing bad press, or stories that may portray an image that is not suitable or damaging to a brand.