By Francesca Trovato. Cover images Elisa Camporesi courtesy.
When she graduated, Elisa Camporesi was 22, a suitcase always ready, and one thing crystal clear: she wanted to be at the heart of the fashion industry. One year later, that suitcase has become her second home. Today, Elisa is an international fashion buyer, hopping from New York to Paris as easily as she once walked the halls of Marangoni. Former top student of the Fashion Business course in Florence, she perfectly embodies what many Gen Z students dream of: turning a passion into a global career.
In this conversation, she tells us what being a buyer is really like — balancing creativity and numbers, showrooms and Excel — and shares her most practical tips for anyone looking to follow her path.
How to Become a Fashion Buyer: Elisa’s Real-Life Career Journey
Good morning and thank you for this interview. Would you like to introduce yourself to us?
My name is Elisa and I’m from Florence, Italy. I grew up in a small town near the city with my family, and I studied languages in high school. When the time came to choose my university path, I decided to pursue fashion — specifically fashion business — because it felt like the perfect fit for me.
I now work as a fashion buyer for a luxury multi-brand store in New York. I’m still based in Florence, but I travel frequently between New York, Paris, and Milan during fashion weeks.
How did you realize that you wanted to be part of this world?
I think it was something I’ve always known deep down. I’ve always loved clothes: when I was just a year old, I started choosing my own outfits. My mom would let me try things on, and — ironically — I already had very clear opinions about what I liked. I’ve always been determined and sure of what I wanted, so I kept chasing my dream.
Studying Fashion Business at Marangoni Florence: What to Expect
Tell us more about your path at Marangoni as a fashion student.
At Marangoni Firenze, I chose the Fashion Business and Management course. The first year was incredible: I suddenly found myself in this beautiful building in the heart of Florence, surrounded by students from all over the world. It was inspiring to meet so many people who shared the same goals and passion, and to be in such a creative environment.
I met amazing people, and I finally got to study fashion exactly the way I wanted — through a business lens, but with plenty of creativity thanks to workshops and hands-on projects. I also learned how the fashion industry truly works, even beyond graduation. Many of the projects I developed back then still help me today in my daily work.
The Path to Becoming a Fashion Buyer: Elisa’s Key Milestones
Is there something in your path that has changed or shaped you in a particular way?
Yes. The most important thing was meeting people who shared my passion and exchanging ideas about the fashion industry. You get to see the sector from every angle: the creative side with fashion design students, the artistic perspective from the art courses, and then the business side with all the numbers.
Meeting people from different countries was incredible, because you understand how fashion is perceived internationally. That really shaped me.
What is the best memory you have from your career here?
My best memory is definitely my graduation. It marked the end of three amazing years in which I grew and learned so much. When I started, I was just a kid with a passion. When I finished, I was someone with a background and a clear idea of what I wanted.
Graduation felt like the conclusion of something I had always dreamed of. It was emotional—for me and for the tutors I had built strong relationships with.
If you were a garment, which one would you be?
I’m very indecisive, but I think I’d be a very structured, tailored jacket. I’m precise, I like to be a little bossy, and that fits my personality. But I could also be a black stiletto heel—because I have a lot of energy and I feel like I can do anything I want.
Skills Every Aspiring Buyer Needs: Communication, English, Excel
What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow your professional path or develop the communication skills you’ve gained?
The purpose of being a buyer is learning more every single day. The fashion world evolves constantly—every blink of an eye. Curiosity is essential in this job.
You also need to be highly communicative, because you interact constantly with partners, suppliers, and brands. Two skills are absolutely necessary:
- You must know English, because you travel a lot and communication is key.
- You must know how to use Excel, because the job is 50% creativity and 50% numbers—budgets, data, planning.
Being a buyer is an amazing and creative job. You travel, attend fashion shows, and experience incredible things, but when you sit down and work, the numbers matter just as much as the creativity.
Passion and Resilience: What it Takes to Thrive as a Fashion Buyer
How much passion is in your work?
For me, it’s all about passion. The job is tough: the environment is demanding, no one coddles you, people challenge you every day, and you feel the pressure of your CEO on your shoulders.
But at night, I go to bed knowing I’m doing what I love. Even if it’s hard or draining sometimes, I feel satisfied because I’m doing the thing that makes me happy. Many people go to bed feeling unsatisfied with their jobs, and that’s terrible.
Even when the work is challenging, I’m grateful because I get to grow and learn. Life is learning—you learn every day from someone or from something that happens.
