Apparel Degree Careers 101

Coming into Auburn, I was enrolled as a mechanical engineering major. One coding class was enough to convince me that I was not ‘engineering material’. Shortly after this realization, I made the switch to biomedical sciences but I was still unsure of what I wanted to do. Luckily, I had worked retail and knew I had appreciation for it. I had always had a passion for fashion growing up, but I was not aware that I could make a career out of it. I did not realize the wide variety of careers within the apparel industry, so I want to share a few different career options for anyone who might be struggling figuring out the next step, like I was before I changed my major . While the careers listed are obviously not the only options available for those pursuing an apparel degree, they provide a starting foundation for how to navigate the expansive career paths available.

Merchandiser

Fashion merchandisers almost do it all. They have a vast range of responsibilities, including planning and executing store layouts, predicting fashion trends, collaborating with fashion designers to ensure products are relevant, working with marketing departments to discuss advertising and campaigns, and sometimes purchasing apparel. The average salary of a fashion merchandiser is $45,509 a year.

Buyer

Retail buyers are responsible for choosing the merchandise options that are provided for customers to shop. They must factor in market demands, target markets, current trends, price, and quality when selecting their assortment. A retail buyer should always strive for a company’s products to be relevant and forward. Buyers also look at a ton of data, whether it be for forecasting trends or analyzing customer shopping patterns. The average salary of a retail buyer is $62,597. 

Designer

Fashion designers are constantly granted with the ability to showcase their creativity. They must design new products for their customers, gathering inspiration from runways, past trends, customer data, and so much more. They must decide everything about the garment, from the exact dimensions of the piece to the material it is made out of. They also must consider the budget they are allotted when designing clothes because decisions such as methods of production and materials used play a big role in apparel production costs. The average salary of a fashion designer is $66,581. 

Fashion Marketing Specialist

Fashion marketing specialists cover everything about how a brand presents itself. They create and implement marketing campaigns and advertisements, promote press conferences, events, and product releases, and clearly convey the brand’s vision and mission. If something is being presented to the public, fashion marketing specialists are in charge of it. The average salary they make is $51,000 a year.

Fashion Journalist

If you have a passion for both writing and fashion, this is the career for you. Fashion journalism allows you to share your ideas, current trends, reviews, and so much more. There’s a few ways to ensure the articles stay relevant. Journalists can attend different events, such as fashion shows, product launches, press releases, and store openings. They can interview designers or representatives of fashion brands, models, or anyone else with experience in the apparel industry. The inspiration honestly pours in from everywhere. Fashion journalists create a plethora of content, whether it be blog posts, magazine articles, or online stories. The average salary of a fashion journalist is $41,950.

Fashion Product Manager

Fashion product managers have a few different responsibilities. As most managers do, they are essentially in charge of the production of a product. They manage the full cycle of a garment, starting with the design stage and ending with inspections. Product managers are the ones who ensure factories are up to safety and quality standards. They also manage costs of production and oversee performance reports. The average salary of a fashion product manager is $87,300./