October’s – ‘The Bravery Issue’ – Download Now

Elizabeth von der Goltz, Global Buying Director NET-A-PORTER is brave enough to go with her gut when it comes to spotting the next hero brand.

Tell us about your role as Global Buying Director at NET-A-PORTER.

My role is to set the global buying strategy, attend the fashion weeks and meet with designers to explore collaboration opportunities. The ultimate goal is to curate a destination where customers can discover new upcoming designers and the most cherished luxury brands, in order to remain an unparalleled shopping experience.

Previously normal days used to vary so much, but when I was in London (and in the office!), I used to be in back-to-back meetings. Now I’m in a lot of Zoom and Webex meetings, I’ll have calls with my senior team to go over the buying strategy and orders for the upcoming season. And then, with our merchandisers, and marketing teams to discuss upcoming brand launches, the site navigation or data insights teams to hear how our brands are performing. It’s nonstop! When we meet with all these internal teams like site trading we already know what’s working – we meet in order to further drive trade and maximise all opportunities. Of course travel used to be a huge part of my job, where I would travel frequently to scout new designers and meet with our existing brands.

Which brands do you personally buy into?

I love Khaite, Bottega, Saint Laurent, Frankie Shop and Peter Do. And The Row, JW Anderson and Joseph, especially for the FW20 season.

What makes a brand worthy of being in NET-A-PORTER’s seasonal lineup of key brands  – The Vanguard?

Each season we look for designers that have a distinct brand DNA and aesthetic, with a unique brand story that we feel will really elevate the programme and resonate with our customers. Young brands have to show authenticity in their designs and a directional brand perspective. It is so key for any new designer to develop a signature that they can stay true to, whilst continuing to evolve and develop over time. Ultimately, we are looking for brands that we believe have the potential to grow into meaningful businesses with a global resonance. The brands we launch each season within the Vanguard programme have been selected because of the impact we think they’re going to have on the fashion landscape. Each are happy that the NET-A-PORTER teams can be supportive and helpful every step of the way to help them grow.

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Images: Getty