Degree 🎓 or No Degree: 70 Fashion Business Career Paths
Written by: Angela Donacien
Welcome to our fashion chamber; Her Biz Files. Think of HerBizFiles as Fashion Business 101- all the essentials explained in a way that actually makes sense! If you're here, you either have a strong interest in fashion or you're desperate for a change and you are thinking about pivoting career paths. I made this blog to share 70 jobs that you can possibly get in the fashion industry, whether you have a fashion degree or not.
Scroll down for the list of 70 jobs that you can get in the fashion industry.
You are meant to do something in life that feels impactful. Something that gets you excited to wake up in the morning. I know the feeling of being confused about where you belong, or struggling to fit in. The reality is, we are all different and that is our asset. This is what makes us valuable. We have something that no one else has. This is why we were all made different. Never suppress who you are because you can be hiding the very thing that can make you the next billionaire. Believe in yourself even when no one else is clapping for you. As long as you understand your vision and hold onto it as you work towards it, thats what will bring you success. Along with consistency of course.
I started my career in fashion while I was in still high school. I did an internship where I worked alongside a designer who had her own clothing boutique. I had the opportunity to do city runs where I would go into the fashion district on my own and buy her fabrics for her. Along with many amazing things I was able to do with her, that was just the beginning for me.
Growing up I always had a desire to be in the fashion industry and I've had many phases while on my journey. From trying to be a fashion designer- to then realizing the business sector of fashion was much more enjoyable for me.
When I was in high school I tried to transfer to The High School of Fashion Industries in Chelsea NYC but it didn't work out. When I was in my junior year of high school I had the opportunity to join The Fashion Institute of Technology to do weekend classes through the EOP program. It was a fashion design class where we learned how to sketch. That was the perfect opportunity for me and helped me to get my foot in the door. After graduating high school I began to attend FIT and worked on getting my Associates Degree in fashion merchandising management. Then after graduating with my A.A.S I applied for the Bachelor's program and received my Bachelor's Degree in fashion business management.
Throughout that journey I took on many roles, from working in fashion showrooms. Having my own online clothing brands. To working with designers and models for fashion week. And working as a wholesale account executive. It's all so fun and there are so many roles that exist that I think many people are unaware of.
When I was in college, the most common role that people said they wanted to take on was a fashion buyer, and it made me wonder if they know that any other roles exist?
Here is the list of 70 jobs that you can get in the fashion industry with or without a degree. Something important to note is that even if you don't think you may be able to take on a role because you lack a degree or qualifications, you may be surprised at the opportunities that you are able to take on. It's about who you know and also sometimes its just about destiny. Whatever is meant for you will stick like glue, and there's nothing anyone can do about it.
With a High School Diploma or Associate’s Degree
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Sales Associate: Greets customers, assists with styling, and closes sales.
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Retail Management Trainee: Trains with store managers to learn operations and eventually lead a store.
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Visual Merchandising Assistant: Helps set up displays, props, and floor styling under the visual merchandiser.
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Showroom Assistant: Manages samples, scheduling appointments, and supports wholesale showcases.
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Fashion Stylist Assistant: Assists stylists in shoots, fittings, and wardrobe prep.
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Customer Service Specialist (Fashion Brand): Handles inquires, returns, and builds relationships with shoppers.
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E-commerce Assistant: Updates product listings, monitors site performance, and assists with online launches.
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Stockroom Supervisor: Manages deliveries, stock accuracy, and restocking schedules.
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Assistant Store Manager: Supports the store manager with staffing, merchandising, and customer service.
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Social Media Assistant (Fashion): creates content, responds to comments, and schedules posts for brand social accounts.
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Fashion Blogger / Content Creator: Writes or posts about trends, reviews products, and creates brand partnerships.
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Fashion Influencer Assistant: Helps manage content, logistics, and coordinating brand collaborations.
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Garment Technician Assistant: Supports fit and production teams in executing technical specs.
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Alterations Specialist: Makes garment repairs and custom adjustments for customers.
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Personal Shopper (Retail Store): Provides customized styling in store, boosting personalized experience.
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Fashion Rental Assistant (Rent the Runway type companies): Helps manage rentals, returns, and styling appointments.
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Fashion Admin Assistant: Provides administrative support in fashion offices and studios.
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Fashion Office Coordinator: Coordinates schedules, documents, and workflows for teams.
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Brand Ambassador: Represents a brand in-store or at events, engaging customers and promoting products.
Fashion Events Assistant: Supports event logistics such as shows, pop-ups, or trunk shows.
With a Bachelor’s Degree
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Fashion Buyer: Assists in selecting products, managing inventory, and coordinating with vendors.
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Assistant Buyer: Leads product selection, ordering, and vendor negotiations.
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Merchandiser: Plans product assortments and ensures inventory aligns with demand.
Retail Planner/ Allocation Analyst: Forecasts sales and distributes inventory across stores.
- Product Developer: Manages design specifications from concept to production.
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Fashion Marketing Specialist: Executes campaigns across media, socials, and retail touchpoints.
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Fashion PR Coordinator: Handles press communication and media relationships.
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Trend Forecaster Assistant: Researches consumer trends and helps build seasonal direction boards.
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Wholesale Account Executive: Manages relationships with retail buyers and drives order flow.
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Brand Coordinator: Supports cohesive branding across channels and campaigns.
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Visual Merchandiser (Lead): Oversees display strategy and execution across locations.
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Supply Chain Analyst (Fashion): Monitors logistics, cost, and supplier performance.
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Fabric/Trim Sourcing Coordinator: Sources materials, negotiates costs, and tracks delivery schedules.
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Quality Assurance Analyst: Ensures product meets standards before production and launch.
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Fashion Showroom Manager: Manages sample inventory and showroom appointments with buyers.
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Retail Analyst: Analyzes sales performance and recommends improvements.
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Licensing Coordinator: Helps manage fashion branding licensing agreements and rollout.
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Fashion Recruiter (Industry Focused): Recruits retail and fashion talent for brand or agency clients.
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E-commerce Coordinator: Oversees online promotions, homepage updates, and merchandising.
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Influencer Marketing Coordinator: Onboards and executes brand partnerships with social influencers.
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Customer Insights Analyst (Fashion): Analyzes shopper data to shape strategy and product offerings.
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Brand Partnerships Associate: Supports brand collaborations and cross promotional projects.
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Event Marketing Coordinator (Fashion Weeks, Trade Shows): Organizes shows, activations, and market events.
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Sustainable Fashion Coordinator: Promotes eco-friendly sourcing and processing within the brand.
With a Master’s Degree or Higher
- Senior Buyer: Leads buying strategies, team management, and departmental performance.
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Global Merchandising Manager: Oversees merchandising across international markets.
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Creative Director: Shapes brand identity, vision and creative strategy.
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Fashion Brand Manager: Defines brand positioning and drives marketing execution.
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Director of E-commerce: Leads online operations and digital strategy.
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Luxury Retail Manager: Manages high- end boutique operations and client experiences.
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Senior Retail Planner: Oversees forecasting and assortment at a strategic level.
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Fashion Consultant: Advises brands on strategy, merchandising, and marketing position.
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Fashion Economist / Market Analyst: Studies industry trends and consumer demand for strategic insights.
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Product Innovation Manager: Leads new product ideations and development pipelines.
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Fashion Educator / Lecturer: Teaches fashion business courses at colleges or workshops.
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Global Trend Forecaster: Leads trend insights for global product and marketing direction.
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Director of Marketing (Fashion): Crafts marketing strategy and team direction.
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Fashion Supply Chain Director: Oversees global supply chain and distribution systems.
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Director of Visual Merchandising: Leads visual strategy and execution across retail network.
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Sustainability Director (Fashion & Textiles): Drives ethical sourcing and environmental initiatives.
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VP of Merchandising: Leads product, planning, and sales strategy at executive level.
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Chief Marketing Officer (Fashion): Sets brand messaging and global marketing strategy.
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Head of Product Development: Leads product pipelines and cross functional teams.
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Chief Brand Officer: Oversees brand identity across all consumer touchpoints.
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Global Sales Director (Fashion): Drives wholesale and market expansion globally.
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Strategy Consultant (Luxury & Retail): Advises brands on growth, restructuring, and market strategy.
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CEO / Founder of Fashion Brand: Leads entrepreneurial ventures in fashion business.
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Fashion Business Author / Speaker: Creates educational content or speaks at industry events.
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Fashion Business Coach / Mentor: Guides early career professional in fashion roles.
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