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What is your previous experience in the industry?
From an early age, I always knew that I wanted a career in fashion and I tailored my education to suit. After completing a BA at RMIT, my first full time position was as a CAD illustrator for a local wholesaler. Following this, I worked for a small independent street wear brand where I was exposed to designing, sampling, fitting, production management, selling and participating in Fashion Week. From there, I took a position with another wholesaler where I had great opportunity to work my way up from a junior to senior account executive. Five years later, I moved across to the retail side as a senior buyer/designer at Sussan.
What is your day to day role?
Each day starts with a review of sales and then from there, it’s all about product! I am always researching new trends and product innovations for both current and future product ranges, so at any given time we are working on both summer and winter collections. My working week involves design and product development, managing production, fitting and putting together new product ranges. We travel internationally each season for product inspiration and also visit our offshore vendors, which is great for sourcing fabrics and newness in garment technology.
What is the most challenging aspect of your role?
As a buyer, the most challenging aspect of my role is anticipating what our customer is going to want six months in advance. Over the last few years, our shopping habits have changed and it’s not as simple as predicting what our customer will want based on what she purchased last season. The challenge for me is to identify new trends and interpret them in a way that is right for our brand and our Australian lifestyle, while offering a point of difference.
What is an initiative you are most proud of?
I have had the opportunity to really take ownership of the soft woven area and establish a consistent handwriting in quality and fit. I have some great partnerships with my vendors and who have supported our department. We now have a library of beautiful running fabric qualities and great control over our quality and workmanship.
What is the biggest change you see in the industry?
Technology has had a huge impact on our industry. Social media and e-commerce has influenced our shopping habits, so that everything has become much more accessible and immediate. Traditionally there was a concept of planning and preparing for the new season, however we now have a more trans-seasonal view on product which has led to more immediate purchase choices.
What is the biggest change you see coming?
My feeling is that the influence and power of social media will continue to drive demand for collections becoming more immediately accessible. Product on offer will also continue to be more trans-seasonal and we will see collections delivered simultaneously, whether in the northern or southern hemisphere as is already happening here in Australia.