Textile sourcing merchandiser

Textile sourcing merchandisers organise efforts for textile producers from fibre to final products.

The following job titles also refer to textile sourcing merchandiser:

fabric purchasing manager
textile purchasing manager
textile sourcing specialist
textile sourcer merchandiser
textile merchandiser
textile merchandise manager

A bachelor’s degree in textile merchandising is generally required to work as a textile sourcing merchandiser.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Textile sourcing merchandiser is a Skill level 3 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to textile sourcing merchandiser.

textile chemical quality technician
textile quality technician
textile operations manager
textile process controller
clothing process control technician

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of textile sourcing merchandiser. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of textile sourcing merchandiser with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

textile quality manager
textile designer
textile chemist
textile product developer
textile, leather and footwear researcher

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of textile sourcing merchandiser.

• Textile marketing techniques: Creating, communicating and delivering value to customers of textile products and services.
• Portfolio management in textile manufacturing: The process of managing teams and projects in textile and clothing product development.
• Textile technologies: Textile technologies to design, manufacture and evaluate the properties of textiles.
• Properties of fabrics: The influence of chemical composition and molecular arrangement of yarn and fibre properties and fabric structure on the physical properties of textile fabrics; the different fibre types, their physical and chemical characteristics and different material characteristics; the materials used in different processes and the effect on materials as they are processed.
• Textile printing technology: Addition of colour partially, according to the designed pattern, onto textile based materials. Processes for adding coloured patterns onto textile materials using printing machines and techniques (rotary of flat bed screen printing or others, heat transfer, inkjet, etc.).
• Challenging issues in the textile industry: The efficiency aims and environmental issues posed by challenges in the textile industry.

These skills are necessary for the role of textile sourcing merchandiser.

• Distinguish accessories: Distinguish accessories in order to determine differences among them. Evaluate accessories based on their characteristics and their application in wearing apparel manufacturing.
• Measure yarn count: Be able to measure yarn length and mass to assess fineness of roving, sliver and yarn in different measuring systems. Also able to convert into the various numbering system such as tex, Nm, Ne, denier, etc.
• Distinguish fabrics: Distinguish fabrics in order to determine differences among them. Evaluate fabrics based on their characteristics and their application in wearing apparel manufacturing.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of textile sourcing merchandiser. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Knitting machine technology: Manufacturing technologies which use loop forming techniques to convert yarns into fabrics in order to form knitted fabrics.
• Dyeing technology: Processes involved in textile dyeing using different dyeing technologies. Also, addition of colours to textile materials using dye stuffs.
• Nonwoven machine technology: Manufacturing of nonwoven fabrics according to specification. Development, manufacture, properties and evaluation of nonwoven fabrics.
• Research and development in textiles: Development of new concepts through the use of scientific and other methods of applied research.
• Braiding technology: Development, manufacturing requirements, properties and evaluation of braided fabrics.
• Textile finishing technology: Processes used for changing the properties of textile materials. This includes operating, monitoring and maintaining textile finishing machines.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of textile sourcing merchandiser. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Create mood boards: Create mood boards for fashion or interior design collections, gathering different sources of inspirations, sensations, trends, and textures, discussing with the people involved in the project to make sure that the shape, design, colours, and the global genre of the collections fit the order or the related artistic project.
• Manufacture knitted textiles: Perform the operation, monitoring and maintenance of machines and processes to manufacture knitted products keeping efficiency and productivity at high levels.
• Conduct textile testing operations: Prepare for textile testing and evaluation, gathering the test samples, conducting and recording tests, validating data and presenting results.
• Check quality of products in textile production line: Check characteristics of textile products like yarns, woven, knitted, braided, tufted or nonwoven textiles, finished cloths, ready-make-garments and determine the product quality along different stages of the textiles or clothing production line.

3323 – Buyers

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References

1. Textile sourcing merchandiser – ESCO