As an associate fashion buyer you will assist the fashion buyer in purchasing merchandise and basically doing the grunt of the work that makes things happen. Passion for fashion is a must and you must be ready to handle all the details and make sure everything goes according to plan. Apply for an assistant or even an entry level position or internship with as many fashion retail companies as possible.Take college classes that teach fashion design, retail management, managing inventory and sales forecasting. Train with a successful buyer to learn more about the fashion industry and how the buying operation works.