Buying Director & Founder

Top Management

With a trader mentality, keen eye for detail, product efficiency and speciality across footwear,
kidswear and menswear, my skills are diverse and steadfast and have attributed to my success in the
industry. With experience and qualifications across both Retail, Law and Design, my skills represent a
diverse, solid background, grounded in creative agility, with an analytical back-bone.


Skilled and experienced in both retail Buying and Supplying with extensive
proficiency in product assortments, product development and a keen eye
for commercial viability and consumer trends, relevant to my Buying or
Supplying categories. Proficient and highly-skilled in price negotiation and
ascertaining key price-points relevant to my customer or brand. Customer
and manufacturer relationships have been strongly built and grown from my
many years in the industry, with contacts, suppliers, factories and customers
across Asia, South Africa the Middle East and the United States.


In my current role, I am an active Supplier of Footwear, Apparel & Accessories to Retailers within
South Africa, as well as Founder of high-fashion footwear brand- Silva Lux Shoes which has expanded
across South Africa and the United States of America. I manage a team of Merchandisers in China
and South Africa, and an independent sales team in the United States. Key to my daily role is
managing my lucrative relationships with the retailers and respective factories, intricately involved in
the entire production process, from trend and sales analysis, concept brief, product development,
importation to QC and dispatch of goods.


I have been acknowledged for my ability to exceed measurable results with a clear strategy, decisive
leadership ability and vision. I have always displayed a solid sense of commitment, energy and
enthusiasm, along with an excellent trader instinct, negotiation skills and thrive in a fast-paced
business with quick decision making. My leadership style is often described as entrepreneurial, and
empowering, and I have excelled through the dedication and passion that I have for the fashion
retail industry, as well as have supervised and managed staff throughout my career .Furthermore,
please note that I hold a valid South African and Portuguese passport and therefore can travel with
ease.


BIANCA DA SILVA CV
2. CAREER SUMMARY
2017- Present	Silva Lux Shoes
Founder & Product Development Director
www.silvathelabel.com

2017- Present	Plus One Wholesalers (Pty) Ltd
Buying Director, Importer & Supplier to Retailers

2017- July 2018	Mandela Mobile
Co-Founder of Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Accessories

2017- 2018	  Babatex Limited Hong Kong
Footwear & Apparel Manager

2015-2016	Knitwear International
Woolworths Kidswear Supplier
Senior Merchandise Manager

2012-2015	Truworths
Senior Menswear and Footwear Buyer

2010-2011	Jenni Button (Leading Designer Brand)
Designer & Production Manager

2009-2010	Freelance
Stylist for photo shoots and Runway Shows

2005-2008	Truworths (Casual position whilst a scholar)
Retail Clothing Assistant

Key performance areas and responsibilities:

•   Within Bspoke Global Sourcing, I facilitate the role as an Import
Supplier to South African and African Retailers, within the following
categories: Accessories, Underwear, Seamless Product and Footwear
•   Source, develop and costing of product across the above categories
•   Early Product Development based on overseas trips and overseas trends, as well as factory developments
•   Price Negotiations with the factories in order to reach a target price which is suitable for the retailers in order to make their margins, as
well as accommodates a margin for Bspoke Global Sourcing within
the required budget
•   Conducting a precise and thorough brief process in order to ensure goods are up to quality, detail & styling specifications
•   Managing exchange rate fluctuations and costing product within the required exchange rate, duty, shipping & clearing charges
•   Source product specific to the retailer, within the required target prices and Recommended Retail Selling Prices
•   Attending local and offshore Trade Shows which facilitate the introduction of new suppliers, factories and potential customers
•   Following Retailer- specific Quality Control requirements and ensuring product quality & construction is in accordance with the standards set
•	Booking of Shipments and ensuring goods are Pre-Production
Sealed on time
•	Ensuring leadtimes are carefully followed and goods are shipped within the required time period to ensure on-time delivery
•	Managing cash-flows and ensuring the timing of funding allows for the purchasing of product for the next season
•	Selling cancelled product to Wholesalers within the market place
•	Reacting to Trade with the Buyer, ensuring a close working relationship and that relevant product is developed in advance in order to capitalize on Quick Response capabilities
•	Providing the Buyer with valuable information as to which products are in development for European Retailers which allow them the capability to test styles at a low MOQ
•	Ensure efficient and scalable operations and financial strength
•	Monitoring every stage of the product process to ensure that all product exceed the standards expected by the Retailers

of Mandela Accessories Division

Key performance areas and responsibilities:

•	Developing of Accessories ranges, offering a diverse range of Product, from Bags, electronic accessories, and luggage
•	Dealing directly with numerous factories in China on product development, branding, price negotiations and innovation
•	Handling the Purchase Order processing and shipment of goods
•	Dealing with the Shipping and Transportation companies, in correspondence with the factories in order to ensure goods are
loaded on the container timeously
•	Handling different kinds of payment terms, and understanding the risks involved
•	Conducting a precise and thorough brief process in order to ensure goods are up to quality, aesthetic and technical standards, as well
as in accordance with requirements for the South African
Regulatory Procedures & Market
•	Strict management of leadtimes through early product innovation
and development, as well as building lucrative and longstanding
relationships with factories
•	Attending International Trade Fairs and ensuring constant innovation, speed-to-market strategies and relevance of new
product development
•	Working with, and managing the diverse requirements within South
African Retailers, from Quality Control, shipping methods,
packaging as well as safety requirements
•	Managing and development of Seasonal Budgets
•	Proposing anticipated Recommended Retail Selling Prices to the various retails through ascertaining rebates, margins, duty and shipping figures, as well as adjusting where necessary and ensuring
prices are competitive relative to the market
•	Quality Control Check at Hong Kong Office ensuring goods are accounted for and of the specified requirement before being
shipped
•	Payment of deposits to factories to ensure space is booked for the manufacturing of goods

Co-founder

Key performance areas and responsibilities:
•   Managing both United States and South Africa Purchasing process for the Silva Lux Shoes brand and catering to the different seasons
in that regard
•   Attendance and intensive development conducted for the purpose of exhibiting at Trade Fairs across the United States, such as
Magic Fair NY and Atlanta
•   Analysis of Demand/ Supply ratio and implementing strategy
•   Consumer behaviour analysis combined with trend forecast to predict and purchase best-selling merchandise
•   Early product development & foresight based on catwalk trends & factory relationships


•   Product assortment planning together with margin strategy to ear- mark price points and create a conducive basket of goods across
best-selling price points
•   Facilitate the direction for all campaigns, shoots and website upgrades
•   Developing all phases of the product, across categories, from design brief, last development, sample make-up, QC and wearer-
trials
•   Development of new last shapes together with factory base in China, South Africa and Turkey
•   Tracking of inventory and fast-reaction to buying behaviour and product development in-line with consumer purchasing
•   Negotiation with vendors and adaptability to the volatility of exchange rates in order to best-cost product in the assortment
planning process so as to achieve the desired margins and high
clearance values
•   Pattern development -convey design intent while simultaneously developing upper patterns for maximum material yield,
manufacturability, cost, fit and comfort
•   Contracting with customers, lessors and factories in order to ensure transparency, yet confidentiality and that the IP of the brand is
protected at all times.
•   Wholesale trade and coordinating of wholesaler costings, including the pack size allocation

Founder & Product Development Director

Key performance areas and responsibilities:

•   Dealing directly with leading Retailers in South Africa, supplying
Footwear, Apparel and Accessory merchandise
•   Execution of briefs into finished product whilst following stringent lead-times
•   Manage a large team of Merchandisers in Guangzhou, Hong Kong
and Ningbo, China who work with me in accordance with the requirements of the South African Retailers
•   Liaising with team in China with regards to new style developments, as well as feedback on trading styles and reacting accordingly
•   Manage a full Quality Control Team on the ground at the factories in China who fulfill audit reports and feedback on each style
regarding QC status per Retailer requirements
•   Manage Account with Retailers, ensuring purchase orders are put
through timeously
•   Early product development specific to the requirements and handwriting of the brands within the Retailers
•   Technical assistance to Buyers and thorough knowledge of Footwear, Denim and Accessory commodities
•   Product Development Specialist
•   Product Costing & Negotiations with Buying teams and management
•   Securing of Forward Cover on local purchases and liaison with shipping companies in accordance with securing containers
•   Handle the entire process of the importing of product, from brief to delivery at the warehouse if locally purchased, or when the goods
are handed over at the Port for FOB purchases
•   Ensuring Profit Margins are maximized and achieved on each style
•   Stringent lead-time management and follow-through
•   Speed-to-Market focus with feedback on trading styles, early product development and competitor store visits
•   Speed-to-Market focus based on Product Tests and securing bulk greige fabric or early development on footwear moulds
•   Clear communication with retailers and clever reacting to trade, as well as product development based on trends and trading styles
within each retailer
•   Control cash flow regarding purchase order vs payments
•   Manage stock fabrics and cancelled styles
•   Sourcing and developing of new fabrics, trims and prints
•   Commercial eye relevant to department when buying product overseas

Footwear & Apparel Manager

Find out detailed information about Bianca Da Silva, Buying Director & Founder 

Bianca Da Silva: Buying Director & Founder

Bianca Da Silva

Fashion Education Design Institute of South Africa

Interior Design Institute