WE ARE BEGINNING A RUBRIC DEDICATED TO THE MOST INTERESTING PROFESSIONS IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY. PLEASE START BEFORE THE MAIN: WHO WE DRESS? STYLISTS, DESIGNERS? - YOU ASK. IT'S NOT AT ALL, THIS IS BYERS!
Looking for trends
According to Bridget Cosgrave, the main buyer of the multi-brand store in Dubai, Boutique 1, it is buyers who dress cities. A systematic analysis of trends and their transmission to retailers, marketers and PR teams is the scheme by which trends reach the end customer in any country, including the UAE. From the outside, it seems that buyers are engaged in incredibly interesting work - they travel to the main fashion capitals of the world during Fashion Weeks with the aim of buying seasonal collections. Often they sit in the prestigious first ranks at the forefront of the collections, and every designer who dreams of becoming famous maintains contact with them. Especially for them, previews of the collections are arranged in separately equipped showrooms - buyers from all over the world come to such shows. They select the right assortment of clothing for their boutiques about 8-10 months before the start of sales, during which time the goods arrive at their customer. After the buyer has decided on the choice of the assortment, he discusses in detail the delivery time and payment methods with manufacturers' managers or directly with designers.
Buyers' work is very intense, because in just a few days allotted, they need to include visits to factories and show rooms, fashion parties and meetings with designers in their busy schedule. In the tough world of fashion, buyers are some of the most respected people. They are an important link driving sales and translating the art of fashion into business. They track fashion trends and determine which ones are right for the customer. According to Galia Al Abbas, the owner and buyer of the ValleyDez Dubai boutique, each purchase is a concentrate of numbers and sales reports with a choice of design and even color of the assortment. Therefore, when making purchases in Milan, Paris, London and New York, she knows in advance what she wants to purchase. Buyers are responsible for the financial success of the store, which will present their assortment. A talented buyer is determined by intuition, impeccable taste, knowledge of customer preferences and forecasting skills - after all, buyers are responsible for the financial success of the store, in which their selection will be presented. Therefore, sales growth is an indicator of Bayer's professionalism.
For example, a selection of collections of Symphony multi-brand boutique in Dubai is distinguished by an amazing cut of models from the Delpozo and Rosie Assoulin collections. These are the things that the buyer of the Fare Moonzir boutique personally likes. Especially she is impressed by the technique of the work of these fashion designers with fabrics and silhouettes. And the avant-garde things Alessandra Rich and Roksanda will always set you apart from the crowd. Pragmatism, coupled with a sense of beauty - the perfect combination for any buyer. His activity is analytics and creativity, therefore, with the right approach, it brings great pleasure.
This hard work, which at first glance seems “glamorous,” actually requires a clear, systematic approach. Bayer would never buy a thing for a store just because he really liked it. Of course, personal style plays a role, but to a greater extent these are numbers and analytics. Knowledge of fashion trends, clothing brands, features of fabrics and textures, a deep understanding of color combinations, as well as external factors, such as climatic conditions and size range in the region, are the necessary skills of representatives of this profession.
For the buyer and fashion director of the most popular online store in the Middle East, Stylebop.com Leyla Yavari, the main criterion in choosing the assortment is the concept of the collection, reputation and DNA of the brand. The selection scheme is quite simple: these are the key things from the collections called "hero pieces" in the fashion world, as well as the classics for the basic wardrobe of a modern woman. Bayer Boutique 1 Bridget Cosgrave relies on quality and design collections. In the Middle East, the aesthetics of the feminine style prevail. However, one of the most difficult tasks set for Dubai buyers is to determine the profile of the buyer. How to please the tastes of local residents, foreign expats, as well as tourists? Bayer of the Koton chain of stores, Shaima Kapadange, believes that for this it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the local “dress code” and, accordingly, carefully and carefully select the main collections and accessories. And without perseverance and enthusiasm in this matter can not do.
How to become a buyer?
It is also worth noting that the buyers of boutiques of large brands do not immediately become. We advise people who are interested in this profession to learn how to correctly determine the style of clothing at all price levels, since a buyer must be able to purchase goods for each potential client. Sometimes there are several specialists in the staff of a large department store, each of whom has his own focus: the purchase of men's clothing, accessories, sportswear, and exclusive items. Buyers think “for several seasons ahead” and understand what to dress their client in a year, today. This is a true elite work for which successful buyers can receive up to $ 10 thousand per month - a fair reward for "life on the plane," according to buyers at the Harvey Nichols - Dubai department store.
In addition, the buyers themselves today are real stars of street style. Street photographers can identify the specialists of large chain boutiques, progressive concept stores, as well as the popular online retailers netaporter.com and matchesfashion.com almost immediately. They are given out by a unique style, and most importantly - the ability to combine well-known brands with future hits of the season from aspiring designers. One of the most striking figures is the Saudi princess Dina Aljuhani Abdulaziz - the owner and main buyer of the D'NA boutique. The princess is always present on the trendy radar of the street style community. Being an icon of style in the Middle East, she perfectly knows how to combine the things of European and Eastern designers.
You can find out what inspires her on Instagram @ deenathe1st. Intuition, perhaps, plays an important role in this business. Sometimes, buyers must take risks to open the horizon for new opportunities and interesting cooperation.
For example, a Boutique 1 specialist is about to add the Barrie Scottish Cashmere collection to the boutique brand portfolio. A stylebop buyer. com intends to closely monitor the work of the French designer Damir Koma and structural decorations from Sophie Bille Brahe. In January, the Symphony boutique will feature collections by Sonia Rykiel and Walter Steiger, as well as the well-known Giambattista Valli, Viktor & Rolf, Isa Arfen, Simone Rocha and JW Anderson.
Finally, we asked buyers of key Dubai stores what will be fashionable in a year - in the summer of 2015. Stylebop.com will put us on San Gallo midi length lace dresses, 70s guipure pants, flat sandals and fringe bags. Symphony buyers represent their girlfriend in wide culottes (skirts), as well as structural asymmetric tops such as Vika Gazinskaya and Issa. But Boutique 1 buyers are advised to definitely buy long raincoats, kimono cut clothes, as well as leather handbags from Mansur Gavriel. It seems that the bohemian style of the 70s will become the trend of the next season.
