BA (Hons) Fashion Buying and Brand Management

Program Overview

This BA (Hons) Fashion Buying and Brand Management program equips students with the skills and mindset to succeed in the competitive fashion industry. It focuses on creativity, business acumen, and problem-solving, with a forward-thinking curriculum and industry connections. Students gain hands-on experience through work-based learning opportunities and industry-style reporting, preparing them for careers in various fashion roles, including fashion buying, brand management, and merchandising.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Keywords: Fashion Buying, Brand Management, Trend Forecasting, Consumer Profiling, Merchandising, Sustainability, Business Planning
• Objective: Equip students with the skills and mindset needed to succeed in the competitive fashion industry.
Focus on creativity, business acumen, and problem-solving.
• Features: Forward-thinking curriculum, industry-standard reporting, industry connections, access to resources like Adobe suite and WGSN, professional work-based learning opportunities.

Outline:

• Year 1: Focus on fundamental skills in:
• Trend forecasting
• Buying from concept to consumer
• Brand buying, management, and promotion
• Digital communication skills
• Personal brand development
• Contextual studies research
• Modules: Industry Introduction, Trend Forecasting, Buying and Product Development, Brand Management and Marketing, Professional Life Practice
• Year 2: Develop understanding of personal brand and work collaboratively with industry partners and other disciplines.
• Focus on merchandising and visual merchandising (real-world context)
• Work-based learning opportunity and manufacturing visits
• Modules: Sustainability and Sourcing, Innovation and Collaboration, Merchandising and Visual Merchandising: The Brand Experience, Professional Life Practice: "Applying your Practice", Work-based learning
• Year 3: Showcase contextual studies research in dissertation format.
• Refine consumer research and trend prediction skills
• Develop market research report, brand proposal, range plan, tech packs, and creative outcomes
• Modules: Final Major Project Research, Final Major Project Launch, Professional Life Practice: "Situating your Practice", Career Pack

Assessment:

• Industry-style reporting
• Presentations
• Portfolio development
• Range planning
• Market research projects
• Brand proposals
• Tech pack creation
• Written and visual dissertations

Teaching:

• Industry professionals as teachers
• Creative and business skills development
• Focus on problem-solving, organization, planning, presentation, promotion, and management
• Industry guest speakers
• Industry-led projects
• External visits to manufacturers, trade fairs, fabric suppliers, and retail spaces
• Use of Adobe suite and online fashion resources
• Collaboration with other disciplines

Careers:

• Fashion Buyer
• Merchandiser
• Marketing Manager
• Brand Manager
• Trend Forecaster
• Data Analyst/Insights
• Sustainability & Sourcing
• Virtual Showroom Designer
• Visual Merchandiser
• Account Strategist
• Online Visual Merchandiser
• Product Developer
• Fabric Buyer
• Digital Fabric Technologist
• Consumer Experience Manager
• E-commerce Manager
• Entrepreneur/Business Owner
• Managing Director/CEO
• Companies include: Net-A-Porter, Harvey Nichols, ASOS, Sweaty Betty, Schuh, Next, Urban Outfitters

Other:

• Located in London, cultural capital of the fashion industry
• Ravensbourne University London is recognized for its industry connections and forward-thinking approach