If you have an eye for detail, exemplary communication skills and in-depth knowledge of trends, then fashion industry offers lucrative options, says Dr Sunita Gupta Konwar
The fashion industry is highly dynamic and it is expanding at a rapid pace. It harbours a large variety of creative and talented designers at its core. However, business acumen, strategic and tactical skills are also essential for the smooth running of this industry. Fashion business management courses mold students into industry professionals ready to strategically and efficiently run the business front of any fashion company.
Here are some of the fields that fashion graduates can opt from for a bright future.
Product development: This area of expertise plays a pivotal role in the development of a product. Working professionals from this field carry out tasks involving conducting market research, deciding the product's price etc., which plays an integral role for any fashion company's design and development process.
Fashion marketing: All businesses rely heavily on their marketing strategies. A Fashion Marketer understands the needs and demands of the customer and helps in crafting strategies while keeping competitive brand activities in mind to dial up the company's sales.
Entrepreneur: Individuals can also look after their own ventures with an underlying endeavour to push the global fashion industry forward with unique innovations. Be it building a brand from the ground up or launching a fashion tech business, the realm of fashion entrepreneurs is ever-growing.
Social media marketing: The manager is in charge of generating content, keeping the target audience in mind. This task further helps in creating strategies and campaigns to generate sales.
Retail: The role of a Retail Manager involves the running of a store and its departments smoothly. Their daily tasks include managing the staff, re-stocking and resourcing. But above all, to also articulate marketing, promotion, and customer satisfaction strategies to maximise profits.
Chief merchandiser: He plays an integral role in fashion business. Their responsibilities include allocating merchandise, developing product assortment plans, and running business analytics to boost sales, among other activities that help the brands grow and develop.
Fashion buyer: A fashion buyer predominantly observes fashion trends, attending trade shows and showrooms. The primary focus is to select items for retail store stock and work with designers and their inventory. The type of retail business impacts the responsibilities of a fashion buyer in question.
Vendor analyst: Vendor Analysts are responsible for surveying vendors for the highest quality materials at the lowest possible costs. It is a core part of the Fashion Business and Management industry.
Fashion consultants: A fashion consultant is a person who has all the necessary skills and knowledge required in the fashion and retail industry. Their primary focus is to enhance their clients image through their wardrobe, while evaluating their body type, personality and career goals.
The pandemic made brands deploy more sustainable and conscious techniques, not just in terms of their products and accessibility, but also with the communication and the overall brand image. The lockdown witnessed increasing footfall on online platforms.
A professional from this field is responsible for creating new and innovative strategies for marketing a given product to increase its demand and value in the market. This field requires thorough research and analysis of the upcoming and prevailing trends in the fashion industry. It is a must for the professional to follow trends worldwide.
Therefore, fashion managers must possess virtues like an eye for detail and exemplary communication skills, in addition to an in-depth knowledge of the prevailing market trends.
The writer is Course Leader-Associate Professor, Fashion Business Management, Indian Institute of Art and Design