Fashion & Apparel Jobs in California with F-1 OPT Sponsorship
Fashion & apparel F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in California are concentrated in Los Angeles, which anchors the West Coast fashion industry, along with San Francisco's growing sustainable and tech-driven apparel sector. Major employers like Gap Inc., Guess, and PVH Corp have California operations actively hiring international talent across design, merchandising, and product development on OPT authorization.
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Get Access To All JobsWHO WE ARE:
Headquartered in Southern California, Skechers—the Comfort Technology Company®—has spent over 30 years helping men, women, and kids everywhere look and feel good. Comfort innovation is at the core of everything we do, driving the development of stylish, high-quality products at a great value. From our diverse footwear collections to our expanding range of apparel and accessories, Skechers is a complete lifestyle brand.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
The Merchandise Planner drives sales through a consistent focus on studying the business, monitoring inventory and sales performance. This will entail providing analysis and action plans to optimize sales and inventory. Critical functions include tracking performance of existing products and assisting in the determination of next steps; developing in-season forecasts and future merchandise plans; maintaining OTB; and ensuring the merchandise financial targets are met (e.g. revenue, units, AUR, margin).
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Manage the OTB sales and inventory at the category level and ensure that the merchandise targets will be met on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
- Communicate to the merchandising team the OTB plan updates and receipt plans.
- Ensure the receipt plans are filled according to the write schedule. Participate in weekly/monthly in-season forecast and OTB meetings.
- Reforecast sales bi-monthly and communicate results and critical issues to the manager.
- Develop an action plan to increase or decrease inventory as needed to reconcile the OTB.
- Review sales performance, identifying risks and opportunities in sales and inventory and provide action plans on a weekly basis.
- Partner with Allocations to agree optimal store stock levels for your brands.
- Drive sales by analysing trends, forecasting, and providing quarterly and seasonal plans in advance of buying season. Included are gender, categories, style, colour, type and material. Ensure the purchases meet the plan.
- Partner with Buyers to actively manage the lifecycle and flow of inventory.
- Develop exit strategies and transition strategies for major product platforms; provide guidance on cancelations, markdown needs, and in-store inventory plans and models.
- On a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis, report on the sales and inventory results vs expectations.
- Partner with Buying team to review pre distribution 30 days after orders are placed.
- Review orders with in-store date 30 days out to identify any changes required. Prioritize key styles/categories for delivery, ensuring pre-allocations meet store and cluster targets.
WHAT YOU'LL BRING:
- Strong aptitude with numbers and clear understanding of retail math.
- Proficiency in using financial metrics and reports to measure the performance of the business.
- Understand how decisions impact financial results.
- Experience in SKU level and category level planning, financial planning process report/modeling building.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to compile and analyse large sets of data.
- Strong organizational skills —ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
- Ability to communicate persuasively, influentially, and responsibly across a cross functional team.
- Excels in team environments and in building/developing strong interpersonal relationships, while maintaining an individual determination to accomplish goals.
- Passionate about customer service.
- Self-motivated and driven to excel and succeed.
- Able to problem solve and manage time effectively.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Advanced computer skills, particularly in Excel.
- Ability to travel.
REQUIREMENTS
Minimum 3-5 years Merchandise Planning, Buying experience in retail (preferably within Footwear/Fashion).
Bachelor’s Degree preferred or equivalent experience.
The pay range for this role is $90,000-$105,000/yr USD.
About Skechers
Skechers, a global Fortune 500® company, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel, and accessories. Serving over 180 countries and territories, Skechers connects customers to products through department and specialty stores, e-commerce and digital stores, and through our more than 5,300 Skechers retail locations.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Skechers is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment. Skechers provides equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment without regard race, color, religion, gender, gender identification and expression, national origin, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic established by local, state or federal law.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants for employment who require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job should request appropriate accommodation by emailing benefits@skechers.com.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each job responsibility satisfactorily. The skills, abilities and physical demands described are representative of those duties that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified for the job position, to perform the essential functions.
WHO WE ARE:
Headquartered in Southern California, Skechers—the Comfort Technology Company®—has spent over 30 years helping men, women, and kids everywhere look and feel good. Comfort innovation is at the core of everything we do, driving the development of stylish, high-quality products at a great value. From our diverse footwear collections to our expanding range of apparel and accessories, Skechers is a complete lifestyle brand.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
The Merchandise Planner drives sales through a consistent focus on studying the business, monitoring inventory and sales performance. This will entail providing analysis and action plans to optimize sales and inventory. Critical functions include tracking performance of existing products and assisting in the determination of next steps; developing in-season forecasts and future merchandise plans; maintaining OTB; and ensuring the merchandise financial targets are met (e.g. revenue, units, AUR, margin).
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Manage the OTB sales and inventory at the category level and ensure that the merchandise targets will be met on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
- Communicate to the merchandising team the OTB plan updates and receipt plans.
- Ensure the receipt plans are filled according to the write schedule. Participate in weekly/monthly in-season forecast and OTB meetings.
- Reforecast sales bi-monthly and communicate results and critical issues to the manager.
- Develop an action plan to increase or decrease inventory as needed to reconcile the OTB.
- Review sales performance, identifying risks and opportunities in sales and inventory and provide action plans on a weekly basis.
- Partner with Allocations to agree optimal store stock levels for your brands.
- Drive sales by analysing trends, forecasting, and providing quarterly and seasonal plans in advance of buying season. Included are gender, categories, style, colour, type and material. Ensure the purchases meet the plan.
- Partner with Buyers to actively manage the lifecycle and flow of inventory.
- Develop exit strategies and transition strategies for major product platforms; provide guidance on cancelations, markdown needs, and in-store inventory plans and models.
- On a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis, report on the sales and inventory results vs expectations.
- Partner with Buying team to review pre distribution 30 days after orders are placed.
- Review orders with in-store date 30 days out to identify any changes required. Prioritize key styles/categories for delivery, ensuring pre-allocations meet store and cluster targets.
WHAT YOU'LL BRING:
- Strong aptitude with numbers and clear understanding of retail math.
- Proficiency in using financial metrics and reports to measure the performance of the business.
- Understand how decisions impact financial results.
- Experience in SKU level and category level planning, financial planning process report/modeling building.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to compile and analyse large sets of data.
- Strong organizational skills —ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
- Ability to communicate persuasively, influentially, and responsibly across a cross functional team.
- Excels in team environments and in building/developing strong interpersonal relationships, while maintaining an individual determination to accomplish goals.
- Passionate about customer service.
- Self-motivated and driven to excel and succeed.
- Able to problem solve and manage time effectively.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Advanced computer skills, particularly in Excel.
- Ability to travel.
REQUIREMENTS
Minimum 3-5 years Merchandise Planning, Buying experience in retail (preferably within Footwear/Fashion).
Bachelor’s Degree preferred or equivalent experience.
The pay range for this role is $90,000-$105,000/yr USD.
About Skechers
Skechers, a global Fortune 500® company, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel, and accessories. Serving over 180 countries and territories, Skechers connects customers to products through department and specialty stores, e-commerce and digital stores, and through our more than 5,300 Skechers retail locations.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Skechers is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment. Skechers provides equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment without regard race, color, religion, gender, gender identification and expression, national origin, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic established by local, state or federal law.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants for employment who require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job should request appropriate accommodation by emailing benefits@skechers.com.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each job responsibility satisfactorily. The skills, abilities and physical demands described are representative of those duties that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified for the job position, to perform the essential functions.
Job Roles in Fashion & Apparel in California
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Which fashion & apparel companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in California?
California-based fashion and apparel companies that have historically hired F-1 OPT candidates include Gap Inc. and its brands (Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta) headquartered in San Francisco, as well as Los Angeles-based companies like Guess, Forever 21, and REVOLVE. Larger retailers and vertically integrated brands tend to have established HR processes for OPT authorization, though sponsorship practices vary by role, department, and hiring cycle.
Which cities in California have the most fashion & apparel F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Los Angeles is the primary hub, home to the California Market Center, the LA Fashion District, and dozens of apparel brands and manufacturers spanning streetwear, contemporary, and luxury categories. San Francisco is a secondary market with strength in sustainable apparel and direct-to-consumer brands. Smaller clusters exist in the Inland Empire, where major distribution and production operations for apparel companies are based.
What types of fashion & apparel roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?
Roles that align directly with a degree field are the strongest candidates for F-1 OPT. Common qualifying positions include fashion design, textile development, visual merchandising, product management, supply chain analysis, and e-commerce roles tied to fashion business or marketing degrees. Technical roles like CAD design, technical design, and production coordination are also well-suited. OPT authorization is tied to your degree field, so the role must connect clearly to your area of study.
How do I find fashion & apparel F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate lists fashion and apparel jobs in California that are open to F-1 OPT candidates, making it easier to filter opportunities without manually researching each employer's sponsorship policies. Because OPT sponsorship depends on employer willingness and role fit, browsing Migrate Mate's curated listings specific to fashion and apparel in California helps narrow your search to employers already familiar with international student hiring requirements.
Are there any California-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in fashion & apparel?
California's large garment manufacturing sector includes many small and mid-size studios that may be less familiar with OPT authorization processes compared to national retailers or publicly traded brands. California also enforces strict garment worker wage and labor laws, which affects how some production roles are structured. For OPT purposes, your role must be a standard employment arrangement, and California's strong community of fashion schools, including FIDM and Otis College of Art and Design, means local employers are often accustomed to hiring recent graduates on work authorization.
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