Aafreen Musarrat

While my background has been on the buying and manufacturing side of footwear, my day-to-day work has trained me in the same discipline that drives retail buying decisions. I've led seasonal range planning — shaping product mix by category, price point and worked trend and market research directly into selection for European and North American brands. I've also managed costing and margin targets against tight production capacity, which meant every buy decision was already constrained by a budget, much like an Open-to-Buy framework.

I'm now looking to apply that same planning and margin discipline on the retail side, where I can work directly with sell-through data and inventory budgets rather than production capacity.

Footwear Merchandiser - PYRAMID EXPORTS

(2024-03)

Buying & Range Planning

• Led end-to-end buying decisions from initial range planning through final order placement, ensuring product mix met buyer expectations and margin targets.
• Planned and managed seasonal footwear assortments aligned with buyer requirements and market trends.
• Collaborated with design and production teams to develop export-ready product lines tailored to international client preferences.
• Managed the complete order lifecycle for international clients — from sample development and approvals through bulk production, quality control, and on-schedule shipment.
• Developed and maintained TNA (Time & Action) calendars; drove vendor capacity plans to ensure products were delivered on time at every stage.
• Built and maintained strong vendor and factory relationships; conducted regular factory visits to oversee production standards and resolve issues proactively.
• Collaborated with sourcing teams to identify and evaluate alternative materials including trims, hardware, leather, soles, and insoles.

Assistant Merchant Intern - BN ENTERPRISES

(2023-10 - 2023-12)

• Oversaw material sourcing and procurement to ensure alignment with design specifications.
• Evaluated leather samples for quality and adherence to specifications, facilitating informed decision-making.
• Managed sample development process for leather bags and accessories, collaborating with design and production teams to enhance product quality.

Merchandising Intern - M.B RUBBERS LTD

(2023-06 - 2023-08)

• Acquired practical experience in rubber and canvas footwear manufacturing, focusing on compounding processes for soles and upper components.
• Enhanced knowledge of EVA sheet making and its application in soles, midsoles, and cushioning components to support product development.
• Assisted merchandising team in tracking production timelines and coordinating with factory floor to ensure alignment on project deliverables.

Design Intern - SUMANGALAM PVT. LTD

(2022-06 - 2022-07)

• Assisted in footwear pattern making and developed formal and casual shoe styles, contributing to product diversity.
• Supported procurement and sourcing of materials while conducting market and trend research to inform design decisions.
• Assisted in creating design concepts using Adobe Creative Suite to meet project specifications.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and ensure design alignment.
• Developed prototypes and mock-ups, enhancing visual communication for client presentations.

B.Des - Footwear Design & Production (Marketing & Merchandising) - FDDI, Noida (2024-01)

I.C.S.E Higher Secondary & Matriculation - Commerce - Saint Joseph's School, Bhagalpur, Bihar