Fashion buying and merchandising has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. Aspects such as the advent of new technologies and the changing nature of the industry into one that is faster paced than ever before, as well as the shift towards more ethical and sustainable practices have resulted in a dramatic change of the roles. As a result, contemporary fast fashion retailers do not follow the traditional buying cycle processes step by step, critical paths are wildly different, and there has been a huge increase in `in-season buying´ as a response to heightened consumer demand.

This textbook is a comprehensive guide to 21st-century fashion buying and merchandising, considering fast fashion, sustainability, ethical issues, omnichannel retailing, and computer-aided design. It presents an up-to-date buying cycle that reflects key aspects of fashion buying and merchandising, as well as in-depth explanations of fashion product development, trend translation, and sourcing. It applies theoretical and strategic business models to buying and merchandising that have traditionally been used in marketing and management.

This book is ideal for all fashion buying and merchandising students, specifically second- and final-year undergraduate as well as MA/MSc fashion students. It will also be useful to academics and practitioners who wish to gain a greater understanding of the industry today.

• Fills a gap in the current literature by presenting an in-depth and up to date view of current fashion buying and merchandising processes
• Considers the impact that technology has had, and will continue to have, on the industry and roles, in a way that no current textbook does
• Uniquely applies theoretical and strategic business models to buying and merchandising that have traditionally been used in marketing and management
• Online resources include additional case studies and lecturer materials
• Part of the Mastering Fashion Management series, aimed towards postgraduate students of Fashion Business Management