Fashion Buying and Merchandising

Build critical awareness and business acumen of the fashion marketplace. You will develop a strong understanding of the dynamics of both the local and global fashion landscape. Retail channels and the strategies employed by leading firms to stay ahead of their competition is explored, in addition you will gain a clear understanding of product journey from concept to final destination. 

Develop the essential skills needed as a business professional. You will examine structures, functions, roles, responsibilities and KPIs within fashion businesses, and unique strategies that inform and enhance sustainable business practice in relation to the Buying and Merchandising function. 

This module will introduce you to the key principles and processes of fashion buying and merchandising, exploring these roles and how they are evolving within a variety of retail environments. It will introduce you to the fundamental industry practices, processes and timelines involved when planning a product range. You will learn about trends, product selection, budgets, inventory management, and timelines as you follow the development of a fashion idea from concept to consumer.

This module will examine the product development strategies used in the current fashion industry. You will study the needs of various market segments and retailers when creating and producing a product that meets the needs of their target consumer. The module will also cover the use of relevant technologies, textile information and garment manufacturing techniques that support the product development process.

This module will enable you to explore and develop personal and professional skills to support your preparedness for life beyond university (post-graduation) in the context of your future options, employability and career readiness. 

This module provides a space for collaborative projects with external and/or internal partners.

This module will evaluate business and commercial management with leadership. You will appraise buying strategies employed within the global fashion environment and through theoretical concepts and models; you will demonstrate an understanding of models of people management, supply chain, ethics, sustainability, culture and strategic planning.

You will evaluate the connection between fashion product innovations and the consumer, exploring innovative, social and environmental concepts in relation to the development of a new sustainable product and how that product would be brought to market. 

The module will critically examine global developments in technology, sourcing, ethics and sustainability within the fashion environment. Through theoretical research and case study analysis students will develop change management strategies in buying and merchandising that will inform and influence the future sustainability of fashion trading and manufacturing to a variety of Fashion businesses.

This module focuses on the pluralistic issues of sustainability, sustainable development, and sustainable initiatives for the fashion industry. Students will explore a variety of sustainable strategies and practices across different markets and study how sourcing affects the environment, human welfare and climate change identifying strategies that embrace a circular economy.

This Fashion Consultancy Project module will enable you to cultivate a comprehensive understanding and insight into an independently chosen area on which to focus a depth study. This module offers the opportunity for you to work on a ‘live’ industry consultancy brief or a ‘fictional’ brief which will task you to consider a particular area of enquiry related to business, management, buying, merchandising or marketing. The brief will pose a strategic level, real life or scenario based challenge relevant to their area of interest/study. 
 
Supported by mentors, you will work independently to carry out a consultancy project in which you will synthesise information including reports, data, industry/sector information, market research and/or academic literature. 

This Fashion Research Project will enable you to cultivate a comprehensive understanding and insight into an independently chosen research area. The module aims to explore and interpret research information through critical review and analysis of existing literature, as well as collect and analyse primary and/or secondary data to create a coherent and cogent argument focused on a specific case of your interest. The module requires you to investigate a substantial issue of contemporary academic and/or business interest in the context of the fashion industry. 
 
Supported by academic research mentors, you will work independently to carry out a research project in which you will synthesise theoretical, commercial and philosophical concepts stemming from relevant academic and/or industry literature. 

The emphasis will be on applying business acumen, research skills and professional practice to an enterprise project within a project management framework enabled by negotiating and defining a project proposal for a business venture.