Are fashion buyers in demand?

Fashion buying is one of the most sought-after and exciting jobs in the $6bn global apparel industry. To go straight into a buying role, you'll usually need a qualification in retail or business or extensive experience in retail, personal shopping or visual merchandising.

How hard is it to become a fashion buyer?

Breaking into fashion buying requires a mix of creativity, analytical thinking, and strong business acumen. Recruiters want candidates who are trend-aware, data-driven, and skilled at negotiating with suppliers.

How much do you earn as a fashion buyer?

Starting Salary: The starting salary for a Luxury Fashion Buyer typically ranges from £45,000 to £60,000 per year. Average Salary: The average annual salary for a mid-level Luxury Fashion Buyer is around £60,000 to £80,000.

Is fashion in high demand?

People worldwide are buying more clothes than they did a decade ago, and fast fashion has taken the center stage to meet the ever rising demand. Fast fashion has taken a toll on the environment and the people who work in the industry. Longer working hours with lesser pay is causing another pandemic behind the curtains.

How to become a fashion buyer in the UK?

Some aspiring fashion buyers choose to complete an apprenticeship rather than a degree to gain experience and qualifications. Apprenticeships allow you to earn a wage while gaining practical knowledge of the industry. Some vocational courses to consider include: buyer and merchandiser higher apprenticeship.

How to Become a Fashion Buyer

What is the average salary of a buyer in the UK?

Starting salaries for junior buyers are in the region of £18,000 to £25,000. With experience you can expect salaries of £25,000 to £45,000. Senior retail buyers earn between £45,000 and £70,000+.

Is fashion buying stressful?

While being a Fashion Buyer is stressful and challenging at times, with the right skills, knowledge and lots of hard work you too can develop a rewarding and successful career.

Is the fashion industry struggling?

Sluggish growth continues

Fashion leaders polled in our annual BoF–McKinsey State of Fashion Executive Survey were just as pessimistic as last year. Just 20 percent expect improvements in consumer sentiment in 2025, while 39 percent see industry conditions worsening.

What fashion career makes the most money?

What's trending in fashion in 2025?

Boho Chic In Suede

Suede is on track to be a standout for Spring/Summer 2025, on everything from accessories as larger bags to skirts and outerwear. In addition, we can expect to see a growth in matching sets as well, a suede blazer paired with a suede skirt or trousers.

What GCSEs do you need to be a fashion buyer?

How much do senior fashion buyers make UK?

Average Fashion & Retail Personnel Senior Buyer yearly pay in the United Kingdom is approximately £57,088, which is 38% above the national average.

What is the life of a fashion buyer?

Fashion buyers typically work in a head office for a department store, high street store or online retailer. It's not always desk work; fashion buyers also need to attend trade and fashion shows every season and have meetings with designers to find out what styles they're working on.

Is fashion buyer a glamorous job?

These roles combine style, creativity, and business acumen, making them highly appealing. Here are the ten most glamorous retail jobs: Fashion Buyer As a fashion buyer, you get to select the latest clothing, accessories, and trends for a store or brand.

How many hours does a fashion buyer work?

While those with different career paths work the standard 40-hour work week, fashion buyers often work long hours to complete their responsibilities. During certain fashion seasons, these clothing experts might work at night or on the weekend in addition to their normal work hours to update a company's inventory.

Do fashion buyers travel?

This position requires less than 10% travel. Ability and willingness to travel overnight for training and/or business meetings.

What age group buys the most fashion?

The median shopper age shows that shoppers in the 25-to-34 age range still make up the largest group of shoppers at 27.6% in 2023 compared with 27.4% in 2022.

Is there a lot of money in fashion marketing?

A fashion marketing salary can range from around £20,000 to around £120,000+.

Are people buying fewer clothes?

Hard-pressed consumers cut back on eating out and buying new clothes to prioritise spending on travel, entertainment and a visit to the pub over the past year, as soaring inflation and rising bills sharply curtailed the rate of spending growth.

How to become a buyer with no experience?

You can start as an assistant buyer and go on to become a junior buyer and work your way up. To go straight into a buying role, you'll usually need a qualification in retail or business. It's possible to get experience in retail on the shop floor, in visual merchandising, or as an admin assistant in a buyer's office.

Where do buyers make the most money?

How much do assistant fashion buyers make in the UK?

Assistant Buyer salaries in London

How accurate is an average base pay range of £25K-£31K/yr? Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time.

What's the fashion color of 2025?

2025 Color Trend: Chocolate Brown

Rich, chocolate brown will play a starring role in 2025. This timeless neutral is among the easiest to style and manages to feel a bit more refined than a simple black or charcoal gray.

What jeans are in style in 2025?

What will the fashion style be in 2050?

In 2050, sustainable fashion will dominate. Biodegradable materials, zero-waste production methods, and circular fashion systems will be standard practices. Example: Clothing made from lab-grown fabrics or recycled ocean plastics that decompose completely when discarded.