Next up in our Meet the Talent series – awesome assistant menswear buyer Faye. Here’s what she had to say when we asked her a few questions…
Hi Faye! Could you tell us a bit more about your role?
Hello! So, I’m an assistant buyer at Republic which means I help the buyer and senior buyer to create the menswear ranges you see on Republic. My job involves working with the design team who produce color palettes, mood boards and the designs for the ranges, then picking the most commercial and balanced range. I also outsource the range to different suppliers. It’s my job to make sure that the products are created to the standard we and our customers expect!
What’s a typical working day like?
I might start off chatting to suppliers – answering their questions and sorting out any problems. Then I’ll have a meeting with the team – design, merchandising and buying all come together to look at what’s working in store. Then I could have a fitting session in the afternoon – it can be hard to see how a graphic on a piece of paper will look on a person, so fitting sessions with models mean we can ensure the clothing fits properly and has been interpreted correctly from the original design.
Sounds very hectic! What are your favorite parts of your job?
The best bit of my job is seeing a product come to life, even if it sounds a bit cheesy! I’m there right from the first sketches through to fabric selection, trimmings and developing the final garment that goes into store. I love seeing people wearing things I’ve worked on! It’s also really great when we try something new and different and it sells well in store.
What about bad bits – anything that’s a bit tough?
I guess the worst bit is when you’ve worked really hard to develop a product and it’s not as popular as you’d hoped… but it’s all useful for the future and definitely a lesson learnt.
How did you get into buying? Do you have any tips for anyone wanting to do a similar role?
Well, I did a degree in fashion design but didn’t really know what I wanted to do when I finished. So I tried a bit of everything – design, photography, buying – to experience all the different areas of the fashion industry. I really enjoyed buying so after uni I got a job as an admin assistant in a buying office and have worked my way up from there!
I don’t think you necessarily need a degree – if you work really hard and have lots of passion for the job you could definitely do it if you don’t have a degree or have one but in a different subject. As long as you’re determined! Work experience and internships are great too and I’d definitely recommend getting some experience, as that will make you stand out.
Thanks for the advice! So what’s hot in menswear for AW12?
We’ve just launched a new denim story and the acid wash skinny jeans are selling really well, so I’d say they’re a key piece. We’ve also got some very cool oversized t-shirts coming in, which you can wear with the sleeves rolled. And leather is massive right now – there are loads of biker jackets around and they’re so easy to throw on to update your look.
Any tips for next season? What will the guys be wearing for SS13?
Next season is so exciting – I think the acid wash denim trend will carry through and incorporate shirts and denim jackets. We’ve also got some really cool graphic stuff coming in from our design team – lots of bold, all-over prints.
Thanks Faye! Some great tips here and loving the sneak peeks of next season! Looking forward to Crafted SS13, everyone?
Jen x
Social Media Team
