Category Buyer - Menswear

Role Overview

The Category Manager for Menswear Buying & Sourcing is responsible for steering the commercial performance of the menswear line. This role covers the full lifecycle of the category, from reading market trends and building the assortment plan to negotiating vendor terms, choosing manufacturing partners, and monitoring inventory health.

Buying & Merchandising

• Create a menswear assortment strategy that supports profitability, using seasonal trends, market insights, and past sell-through data.
• Define pricing architecture and promotional plans that protect margins while keeping the offer competitive.
• Review sales on a regular basis, identify top-performing SKUs, and plan clear actions for slow-moving or non-performing stock.

Sourcing & Procurement

• Find, evaluate, and manage relationships with factories, fabric suppliers, and trim vendors.
• Handle commercial negotiations for pricing, minimum order quantities, and other supplier terms.
• Make sure all products meet quality benchmarks, compliance standards, and the brand’s expected look and feel.

Product Development & Supply Chain

• Study fashion trends, competitor ranges, and market movement, then convert those insights into menswear product direction.
• Work with design, development, and factory teams to manage samples, fit approvals, and pre-production coordination.
• Track inventory movement closely so products arrive on schedule and stock availability remains healthy.

Experience & Qualifications

This position generally calls for 5 to 12+ years of experience in apparel or garment retail, with a strong focus on menswear buying, merchandising, or sourcing. Candidates should understand garment manufacturing, fabric procurement, production processes, and costing in depth. Strong analytical ability is important, along with comfort using data tools, financial analysis, and advanced Excel for inventory tracking. Excellent negotiation skills, stakeholder coordination, and problem-solving ability are also important.

Education

A bachelor’s degree is expected, ideally in Fashion Technology, Apparel Production, Textile Engineering, or Business. Qualifications from institutions such as NIFT or Pearl Academy are often preferred.

Eligibility

Any graduate may apply.

Preferred Candidate Profile

The role is best suited to professionals who can combine commercial thinking with fashion category expertise, vendor management strength, and a structured approach to assortment and inventory planning.