The Shadow Designer

The Shadow Designer article in Chapter 11 describes what June Horne, a buyer for Saks, goes through to determine the pieces that will be appropriate for her stores. The article shows what responsibilities are required for a buyer to be successful and how they relate to the designers. “ A designer concentrates on the collection, a buyer on the customer” (Horne). When evaluating the process, this quote explains how a buyer has to truly understand what the consumer expects; without consumer appeal, designers cannot sell their collections.  A buyer must use creative, fiscal and geographical elements to bring success to both their store and the designers. The above video introduces us to the Buyers at American Rag Cie and their outlook on being successful.  -Rachael

Buyers are some of the most influential characters in a company. Like the article The Shadow Designer stated, "the role of the department store buyer is to translate the look of the impossibly beautiful runway model into an outfit that a real-life woman can wear and purchase." I found it surprising that not only does the buyer have to responsibility to pick out that the store is going to sell but they also have the power to tell designers to make certain garments for their store. The example I found from the article is when Horne tells Alfaro that if he doesn't drop the slit on his skirt they would simply just send it back and not sell it in the store. I think I found this so surprising because I thought that they would just pick certain garments from designers to sell in the stores but I certainly had no idea that they had some much say that they could tell the designers what to make for their stores. But it does make sense that the designer concentrates a collection on the customer, and who better to know about their customers then the store buyer his or herself.  -Kaitlin 

The quote stuck with me throughout this reading was "A designer concentrates on the collection, a buyer on the customer". This I found to be very true and I related it back to majors within our school. No wonder buyers are derived from Fashion Marketing majors, because marketers know the ideal customer. Designers derive from Fashion design majors because they study how to make innovative clothing, not focusing on studying the consumer. After reading this article I have learned that it takes an overall well rounded Fashion and business knowledgeable person to become a successful buyer. You have to know the Fashion side and knowing what is trending and you need to know the business side in knowing your customer and knowing what will sale. This is a tough job that is specific for certain people.  -Amanda

June Horne, Buyer

June Horne at the Calvin Klein Collection Opening

After reading "The Shadow Designer," I was more aware of what the position of a Buyer actually entails. According to the text, a buyer's job is to "translate the look of the impossibly beautiful runway model into an outfit that a real-life woman can wear and (more to the point) purchase" (Lubow). The buyer acts as a bridge from the designer to the consumer. It is shocking how much influence and power a buyer has on both the designer and the consumer. For instance, a buyer can tell the designer what stays in the store and what goes back. Just as well, a buyer can heavily influence the purchase decision of a consumer, merely based on what they've chosen to have sold in the store. All in all, a buyer holds an important role in the fashion industry, and should be respected. -Mallory