Caoimhe Brennan
When Caoimhe Brennan finished school and considered her next steps, she didn’t know that a successful career in fashion buying and merchandising was an option.
This dynamic career path combines business, analytical, financial and strategic skills with the creative and diverse world of fashion – a perfect combination for those who love fashion and want to work in it but aren’t interested in design.
Like many people, Caoimhe followed what she believed was a ‘secure’ path in law, where she spent several years working as a Legal Assistant and a Legal, Compliance & Logistics Administrator.
The job provided her with invaluable organisational and problem-solving skills, but deep down, she always felt drawn to something more creative.
Fashion has been her passion since childhood, but she was never interested in fashion design and wasn’t aware of the rewarding opportunities in the business side of fashion.
Believing law to be a safer career choice, she pursued it with dedication—until the realisation set in that it wasn’t where she truly wanted to be long-term. One day, while scrolling through Instagram, she discovered Portobello Institute’s BA (Hons) Fashion Buying and Merchandising.
“I saw studying as the quickest way to get into the roles I wanted. I could have started at the bottom in retail and worked my way up, but that can take years.
“Doing a degree meant I could gain the right knowledge, build industry connections, and have better opportunities straight out of college. Plus, getting a degree was always something I wanted to achieve for myself. It just made sense to go for it rather than trying to break into the industry with no formal qualifications.
“Fashion has always been something I loved, but I was never into the design side of things. I’ve always been more interested in the business and strategy behind it. It has been amazing to finally study something I am genuinely excited about that still lets me be creative.
“Portobello just felt like the right fit. Not to mention it is the only level 8 available in Ireland. The course is accredited by London Metropolitan University, and most importantly I liked that the structure gave me time to work while studying.
“Another selling point was having lecturers who work in fashion, plus the trips to trade shows in London, Birmingham, Paris, and Milan. It was not just learning from a textbook in big lecture halls, it was hands-on and practical, which is exactly what I wanted,” she said.
Caoimhe’s time as a student at Portobello Institute has been transformative. From the very beginning, she found the course to be engaging, with lecturers who genuinely cared about her progress.
“Honestly, it has been such a great experience. The course is really engaging, and the lecturers genuinely care about your progress. The small class sizes mean you get loads of support, and everyone gets to know each other, I’ve met a great group of like-minded people who will remain as friends and part of my network in the future. It is a nice mix of theory and real-world application, so it never feels like you are just sitting through lectures with no idea how it all applies to the industry.
“The practical way of learning and industry exposure are the best things. Getting to hear from people working in fashion, plus the trade show visits, are amazing. It gave me a real insight into how things work beyond just the classroom. The flexible schedule was also a huge plus because it gave me time to work and gain experience while studying.
“The course is well-structured, and it gives you everything you need to start a career in fashion. The support from lecturers, and the fact that you get practical experience all make it worth it. It is not just a degree it really prepares you for the real world,” she said.
Caoimhe now works as an E-Commerce & Website Coordinator at Paula’s Boutique, a job that she loves where she applies what she has learned during her studies.
“Yes, I would 100% recommend it. It gave me exactly what I needed to make the switch into the fashion industry. The mix of business, fashion, and practical learning was perfect for me, and it opened so many more career options than I originally expected.
“I have also discovered a real passion for the financial side, e-commerce and digital merchandising, which I would not have known about had I not started this course and gotten my current job.
“One of the biggest things I worked on in my role was implementing an omnichannel retailing strategy. When I began the website was a new and unfamiliar structure in the business, I helped set up and manage the boutique’s online store, making sure the website was fully integrated with the physical shop.
“This streamlined everything like stock levels, sales, and customer experience. I also worked on online merchandising, promotions, and email marketing, which was great experience, as well I am currently initiating a monthly newsletter to help match the personalised experience of the physical store to that of the online store.
“It has been such a valuable experience, I have learned so much about e-commerce, digital merchandising, quantities, budgets, and how to analyse sales data to make better decisions. It has also made me realise how much I love working on the digital side of fashion retail, which I might not have discovered otherwise.
“On top of that, working as a retail consultant has given me hands-on experience in styling, personal shopping, and understanding customer preferences. Being on the shop floor has helped me see how retail really works, how visual merchandising influences sales, how important customer service is, and how in-store and online shopping connect.
“The skills I have gained like inventory management, marketing, web design, and customer engagement will be especially useful no matter what direction I go in.
“It has given me such a strong foundation in both the business and creative sides of fashion. From trend forecasting to supply chain management and financial decision-making, I feel like I have a well-rounded understanding of the industry. The mix of theory and practical experience has made me feel much more prepared and confident about stepping into my career.
“Just that I am so glad I took this step and made the career switch, I am excited to see what is next!” she said.
Check out our upcoming business of fashion courses here or book a call with our expert admissions advisor below!
