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Greta Borunovaite

Greta Borunovaite

Profession
Assistant Buyer at Zalando
College
London College of Fashion
Person Type
Alumni
Greta Borunovaite

Biography

Originally from Lithuania, Greta graduated from BA Fashion Management (now BSc Fashion Management) in July 2017, since then she has worked in Amsterdam and Berlin, growing her career in buying. She now works as an Assistant Buyer at Zalando. She tells us about her time at LCF, and her future international plans.

Interview

What have you been working on since finishing your course?

Straight after submitting my dissertation I moved to Amsterdam for a supply chain operations intern position at Ace & Tate. Whilst I was there, I was applying for buying jobs everywhere in Europe. Shortly after, Zalando offered me a Buying Assistant role in Berlin. I wasn't 100% sure that I should accept the offer because it was in the maternity unit - a part of the industry I wasn't interested in. However, having any kind of experience seemed better than none, so I accepted the offer. I learned loads about buying at Zalando, and due to the small team I got to travel a lot. A year later, I was ready for a promotion and moved to the premium unit where I now get to work with brands I have always admired.

This journey has really taught me to take every opportunity out there and make the best out of it.

Did you always know you wanted to pursue a career in fashion?

I was always interested in fashion and photography and applied for both subjects at UAL. Funnily enough, I got offers for both courses and had to make a really tough choice. The main reason I chose Fashion Management was the feeling that the course offered balance between business and creativity, and I've never regretted my decision.

For you, what's the best thing about your job?

I know that I couldn't have a 9 to 5 office job, or a completely unstable profession. I have always liked the balance that buying offers. You get the best of both worlds - you have budgets to plan and orders to make, but you also get to travel to fashion weeks and showrooms all over the world. It never gets boring!

It's a job that requires the ability to blend numbers and creativity; it crosses the line between merchandising and design, and constantly keeps you on your toes.

What are your plans for the next few years? Where would you like to see yourself professionally?

I want to continue my career in buying at Zalando as I see a lot of potential for growth and enjoy the international environment. I feel like I'm learning so much everyday, yet there is so much more to learn! However, I also want to expand my horizons and try working in another city at some point. New York is definitely on my radar.

Why did you choose to study at LCF?

I was considering studying fashion so naturally, London, and especially LCF, were at the top of my list. LCF had the best reputation not only for creative courses like fashion design, but also for fashion business. I attended the open day for Fashion Management before applying and straight away I felt like it was the place for me!

LCF simply has a professional, yet fashion focused, approach.

Why did you decide to study Fashion Management?

Before starting my course, I didn't know what career path I wanted to follow, except that it had to be within fashion. Although I was interested in arts and photography, I felt that it was more like a hobby.

I decided to study Fashion Management because it combined fashion and business.

What did you enjoy the most about your course?

The great guest speakers we had and our lecturers, who were working or had worked in the industry. The course never felt too theoretical - we were always given the opportunity to practice what we were learning. After leaving the university I realised the invaluable advantage this gave me in the industry, as I already had people working in fashion on my LinkedIn and a brain full of practical advice.

In addition to great lecturers and guest speakers, the way the course was structured and scheduled also contributed to learning by doing. I recall much more about going out and doing research, collaborating, working on business plans etc. than sitting in the clasroom. All of this has given me the confidence to go and do things, which is essential in the fashion industry.

What topic did you explore in your dissertation?

I wrote my dissertation about Millenials' attitudes towards fast fashion brands copying contemporary designers. The more immersed into the fashion world I got, the more I was bothered by fast fashion brands' tendency to copy smaller designers. I genuinely wanted to know what other Millenials' thought of this phenomena and what could be learned from it. I conducted 2 focus groups and 6 individual interviews - a large database but I found all of the opinions so fascinating! I interview people from different backgrounds and was extremely surprised when some of the interviewees had no idea about the concept of fast fashion.

Being genuinely interested in my topic helped me to stay focused throughout the entire process. You will spend months working on your final project so it is very important to invest time in choosing your project.

What advice would you give to potential students who would like to enrol?

If you aren't sure about the course, go to an open day!

It might seem unnecessary, especiallly if you don't live in the UK but it really gives a great insight into the course, plus you will get to meet some of the people you will be studying with. Personally, however, I would encourage you to study Fashion Management if you are planning to work in the fashion industry. It gave me invaluable insight into the industry and shaped my understanding of fashion.

I also met so many inspiring people during the 3 years at LCF - students, speakers and of course, lecturers.

Links

London College of Fashion

Contact

Telephone

+44 (0)20 7514 7400

Address

105 Carpenter's Road
London

E20 2AR