On August 8, 2026, the First-Semester Master of Fashion Management (MFM) cohort conducted an experiential industrial visit to the Raymond manufacturing facility and its factory outlet in Vapi. Designed around the core module of Buying & Merchandising, the field visit bridged academic theory with end-to-end industry operations—tracing the journey of apparel from raw textile production to retail merchandising.
Key Learning Objectives & Observations
1. Sourcing & Production Merchandising (Factory Unit)
Fabric Processing & Quality Control: Students observed the processing lines for premium worsted fabrics, gaining insight into yarn selection, weaving density, and finished textile grading.
Production Planning Control (PPC): Factory supervisors demonstrated how orders transition from buyer tech packs to floor production schedules, highlighting lead-time management and yield optimization.
Costing Factors: The technical team detailed bill-of-materials (BOM) management, waste reduction techniques, and operational efficiency metrics critical for industrial buyers.
2. Retail Merchandising & Outlet Management (Vapi Outlet)
Floor Layout & Assortment Planning: At the Vapi factory outlet, students analyzed floor space allocation, stock-keeping unit (SKU) density, and product segmentation across tailored suits, casual wear, and accessories.
Visual Merchandising (VM): The visit covered focal-point creation, mannequin styling, and promotional signage strategies designed to move high-volume factory stock.
Inventory Control & Discounting: Store management explained inventory turnover rates, clearance strategies, aging stock markdowns, and consumer buying behavior in off-price retail environments.
Operational Overview
Metric
Details
Total Attendees
28 Students + Faculty
Primary Industry Focus
Suiting, Shirring & Retail Operations
Core Operational Segments
Textile Manufacturing, PPC, VM & Inventory Management
Key Takeaway
Alignment of factory production constraints with retail buying calendars

 

Buying & Merchandising , 2026-08-08

On August 8, 2026, the First-Semester Master of Fashion Management (MFM) cohort conducted an experiential industrial visit to the Raymond manufacturing facility and its factory outlet in Vapi. Designed around the core module of Buying & Merchandising, the field visit bridged academic theory with end-to-end industry operations—tracing the journey of apparel from raw textile production to retail merchandising.
Key Learning Objectives & Observations
1. Sourcing & Production Merchandising (Factory Unit)
Fabric Processing & Quality Control: Students observed the processing lines for premium worsted fabrics, gaining insight into yarn selection, weaving density, and finished textile grading.
Production Planning Control (PPC): Factory supervisors demonstrated how orders transition from buyer tech packs to floor production schedules, highlighting lead-time management and yield optimization.
Costing Factors: The technical team detailed bill-of-materials (BOM) management, waste reduction techniques, and operational efficiency metrics critical for industrial buyers.
2. Retail Merchandising & Outlet Management (Vapi Outlet)
Floor Layout & Assortment Planning: At the Vapi factory outlet, students analyzed floor space allocation, stock-keeping unit (SKU) density, and product segmentation across tailored suits, casual wear, and accessories.
Visual Merchandising (VM): The visit covered focal-point creation, mannequin styling, and promotional signage strategies designed to move high-volume factory stock.
Inventory Control & Discounting: Store management explained inventory turnover rates, clearance strategies, aging stock markdowns, and consumer buying behavior in off-price retail environments.
Operational Overview
Metric
Details
Total Attendees
28 Students + Faculty
Primary Industry Focus
Suiting, Shirring & Retail Operations
Core Operational Segments
Textile Manufacturing, PPC, VM & Inventory Management
Key Takeaway
Alignment of factory production constraints with retail buying calendars