Michelen Fernandes
Kuwait City,Kuwait
Summary
Detail-oriented and dedicated Home Textile Buyer with strong experience in vendor management, product development, and inventory planning. Skilled at handling multiple priorities, building cross-functional relationships, and ensuring products align with brand identity and customer expectations. Known for clear communication, strong time management, and a hands-on, practical approach to problem-solving. Passionate about textiles and design, with a focus on quality, organization, and contributing to the overall success of the business.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Home Textile Buyer
Riva Home, Armada Retail Concept
Kuwait City
05.2024 - Current
- Collaborated with vendors to source fabrics, patterns, and colors that reflected brand aesthetics and appealed to target customers.
- Maintained strong working relationships with both domestic and international suppliers to ensure consistent product quality and timely deliveries.
- Negotiated pricing, payment terms, lead times, and quality standards to support cost-effective and reliable sourcing.
- Regularly evaluated supplier performance and ensured labeling and packaging met brand and compliance standards. Managed product samples, reviewing them for design accuracy, material quality, and production feasibility before final approvals.
- Handled weekly buying tasks, including monitoring stock levels and placing orders to maintain optimal inventory levels.
- Coordinated closely with the studio and E-commerce teams to ensure products were launched online on schedule and met visual and content standards.
- Developed pricing strategies that reflected market conditions, cost structures, and company margin goals.
- Supervised product testing and quality checks to ensure all items met internal standards before shipment or store distribution.
Merchandiser
William Sonoma, Alshaya Group
Kuwait City
04.2023 - 04.2024
- Organizing stock transfers and facilitating effective communication with store staff for queries are critical aspects of retail operations.
- Identify opportunities to capitalize on emerging trends or align discounts with seasonal promotions to attract more customers.
- Prioritize Made- to- Order (MTO) orders from loyal and VIP customers to ensure prompt attention and fulfillment.
- Allocate resources and production capacity accordingly to meet customer expectations and delivery timelines.
- Analyze historical sales data and trends to forecast demand for replenishment items. Consider seasonal fluctuations, promotional activities, and other factors that may impact demand.
- Implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and impact of promotions on the Blue Yonder system.
- Share Weekly and Monthly Brand Performance reports with Host Brand with efficiency.
Assistant Merchandiser
Claire's, Alshaya Group
Kuwait City
04.2021 - 04.2023
- Utilize data to analyze sales patterns, identify trends, and forecast demand more accurately by using Power Query.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery of products and maintain customer satisfaction.
- Organizing stock transfers and facilitating effective communication with store staff for queries are critical aspects of retail operations.
- Identify opportunities to capitalize on emerging trends or align discounts with seasonal promotions to attract more customers.
- Compare actual financial performance against the budget for the period. Identify areas where actual performance deviates significantly from the budget and investigate reasons for variance.
- Assist with Brand Business Plan for the following year.
- Present the Sales & Margin tracker to the Vice President of the Apparel Division on a scheduled basis.
- Share Weekly and Monthly Brand Performance reports with Host Brand with efficiency using Power Automate.
- Analyze historical sales data and trends to forecast demand for replenishment items. Consider seasonal fluctuations, promotional activities, and other factors that may impact demand.
Education
Master in Fashion Management - Masters
Rome Business School
International Master in Fashion Management 04.2025 -
B.Sc. Fashion & Apparel Design - Bachelors
Vogue Institute of Fashion Technology
Bangalore, India 06.2017 - 11.2020
High School - High School
Indian Community School
Kuwait City 04.2015 - 04.2017
Skills
- Vendor negotiation
- Data analysis
- Time management
- Communication efficiency
- Negotiation
- Computer skills
- Teamwork
- Adaptability
- Fast Learner
SOFTWARES
Microsoft Excel
SAP
WMS
Power Query
Power BI
Power Automate
Retail Management System
Business Analytics
Citrix Allocation
Blue Yonder
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Microsoft Powerpoint
Languages
English
Fluent
Hindi
Upper intermediate
Spanish
Beginner
French
Beginner
Accomplishments
- Styling different looks for models before they walk down the runway.
- Ensuring everything from accessories to outfits are appropriately assembled.
Backstage Dresser, Raw Mango Indian Fashion Show
Certification
Certificate of Completion
- Digital Fashion Illustration Workshop in Photoshop.
- Microsoft Excel Course on Advanced Formulas & Functions.
- Data Analysis with Excel Pivot Tables.
- Retail Business, Merchandising & E-Commerce.
Timeline
Master in Fashion Management - Masters
Rome Business School
04.2025 -
Home Textile Buyer
Riva Home, Armada Retail Concept
05.2024 - Current
Merchandiser
William Sonoma, Alshaya Group
04.2023 - 04.2024
Assistant Merchandiser
Claire's, Alshaya Group
04.2021 - 04.2023
B.Sc. Fashion & Apparel Design - Bachelors
Vogue Institute of Fashion Technology
06.2017 - 11.2020
High School - High School
Indian Community School
04.2015 - 04.2017