Leslie Fernandez-Orejel

Leslie Fernandez-Orejel is an aspiring fashion buyer with a strong foundation in fashion merchandising, trend analysis, consumer behavior, and commercial product selection. Her passion for fashion began at an early age and led her to pursue an Associate’s degree in Fashion Design and Production from Monterey Peninsula College before continuing her education at California State University, Northridge, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising in 2026. Through her academic journey, she developed a deeper interest in the business and consumer-focused aspects of the fashion industry, particularly how trends and customer preferences influence merchandising and product decisions.

Leslie has gained hands-on retail and fashion-industry experience through roles with H&M, The FIX, and Sharon Koshet Sales, as well as her trainee experience with the CSUN Career Center’s Matty’s Closet. As a Sales Advisor at H&M, she supports customers, processes returns, operates the cash register, and assists with merchandise organization in a fast-paced retail environment. Her previous showroom internship provided exposure to purchase orders and fashion sales operations, while her broader experience has strengthened her skills in customer service, retail operations, teamwork, attention to detail, and adapting to changing priorities.

Focused on building a career in fashion buying, Leslie combines creative interest in fashion with analytical and commercial skills. Her areas of strength include trend research, market research, consumer insights, Microsoft Excel, and attention to detail, complemented by professional development in areas such as VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP, negotiation, and diversity and inclusion. She is interested in opportunities across fashion buying, merchandising, planning, styling, public relations, visual merchandising, retail operations, and brand strategy, where she can apply her understanding of the fashion marketplace while continuing to grow professionally.