Transform Your Fashion Career or Business with Expert Fashion Buying Strategy & Support

Learn to think strategically, make confident commercial decisions, and build the career you want

The Industry Expects You to Know What No One Actually Taught You

Most fashion buyers are thrown into roles expecting them to:

Make million-dollar purchasing decisions with confidence
Navigate complex supplier relationships and negotiations
Balance creative vision with commercial reality
Understand the full impact of their choices on margins, timelines, and team performance

But here’s what’s broken: Companies expect you to figure it out. And everyone assumes you already know the fundamentals that actually matter.

The result? You’re making decisions based on guesswork instead of strategy. You’re reacting instead of leading. And you’re missing the confidence and clarity you need to truly excel.

What If You Could Think Like a Senior Buyer from Day One?

Hi there! I’m Elisabeth, the mind behind The Design Directive. With 25 years of real-world experience in the fashion industry, my goal is simple: to help fashion retailers like you grow and succeed. From fashion buying strategies to product development, I’ve got you covered. Let’s unlock your brand’s full potential together!

My approach is different because:

I teach you how to think like a buyer, not just execute tasks
I bridge creative intuition with commercial strategy
I focus on the gaps no one else is addressing
I give you frameworks that work in the real world, not just theory

Elisabeth Mac Hale

From Uncertain to Unstoppable : What My Students and Clients Achieve

For Individual Buyers:

Move from theory to real-world application with confidence in the “why” behind every decision
Land senior buying roles by demonstrating strategic thinking, not just task completion
Make commercial decisions that improve margins and reduce costly mistakes

For Teams & Businesses:

Upskill teams faster with structured training that reduces burnout on senior staff
Strengthen buying strategies that drive better commercial results
Build more capable teams with improved onboarding and long-term development frameworks

Service offer

Consultancy

We offer advisory support on a regular basis and can provide insights & strategies to apply new processes to meet current and future needs.

Training

I provide specialized fashion buying expertise & training, equipping your teams with the skills to grow and flourish without missing a beat.

Product Design

We can develop custom ranges for you; From Concept to Product Our priority is to ensure your needs are met and exceed your expectations.

Market Research

Our analysis helps to build brand and product strategies with mapping & in-depth reviews of the product offer, fit & price for the target market.

Trusted by
teams at:

"Along with the sharp strategic information and analysis, our workflow was very productive and well designed. We understood we were working with a very responsible and careful partner that respected all of our deadlines and managed to put together a great work in a challenging schedule.!"

- S. Arpassy

"Elisabeth helped us in our product detailing and our buying workflow buying which reflected in better collections and a fruitful outcome for our business. Her experience in product and merchandising is immaculate and she has been a perfect value addition to our business.."

- M Tandon

"Elisabeth transformed the buying department addressing product & retail requirements relevant to the regional market and by establishing a strong in-house design team & developing brands that differentiated & improved our brand positioning."

- S Govindan

HOW TO MASTER FASHION BUYING: YOUR ULTIMATE ANSWER GUIDE

DOWNLOAD this free guide with answers to the most frequently asked questions about fashion buying. As a buyer you need to know how to manage each step of the buying cycle. Get the answers you need to go from good to GREAT !