Cristo Bussman-Stuart – Harrods, Luxury Womenswear Buyer
Introducing your mentor, Cristo Stuart, the Womenswear Buyer at London's prestigious luxury retailer, Harrods.
Cristo's journey in the fashion industry began with a year and a half of interning as a fashion assistant, where he gained valuable experience in styling and editorial work. Facing a pivotal decision between returning to his home island of Guernsey or pursuing a paying job in London, Cristo chose to stay in the city he loved.
He secured a position as a sales associate at Harrods with Bottega Veneta, ultimately progressing within the company over 7 years to become the retail buyer/merchandiser for the UK and France directly operated store network, overseeing all categories including Leathergoods, RTW, Shoes, Jewellery, Fragrance, and Sunglasses.
In August 2020, Cristo returned to Harrods as the Buyer for Luxury Accessories, focusing on bags and other leather goods from the world's top brands. With experience in both individual brand and multi-brand structures, across bricks-and-mortar, online, and travel retail, Cristo brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His passion for products and obsession with detail, combined with advanced knowledge of luxury clientele, retail, and merchandising strategies, set him apart. Furthermore, Cristo's degree in Chinese studies has equipped him with specialist knowledge in the Chinese consumer market.
While his expertise primarily lies in luxury leather goods, shoes, and RTW, Cristo's diverse skill set and experience are applicable across the industry at all levels.
RETAIL CONNECTIONS
- YOOX Net-a-Porter
- Luisa Via Roma
- Christian Dior
SPOKEN LANGUAGES
- English and Mandarin
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Jillian Xin – LABELHOOD, Buying & Merchandising Director Joins WE are COCO
Jillian Xin is an experienced fashion buyer and merchandising expert with a strong background in supporting young designers and facilitating market entry into Greater China. Currently, she leads buying and merchandising for LABELHOOD, where she continues to foster new talent and design collections that resonate with emerging trends.
Jillian's expertise spans across China, Hong Kong, and the UK, having worked at prestigious organizations such as Lane Crawford and XINLELU. With her entrepreneurial spirit, she was instrumental in launching XINLELU, a platform that introduced independent fashion labels to Shanghai and gained significant recognition in the market.
"Fashion is about creativity, but it’s also about understanding the business landscape, especially when entering a complex market like China. My mission is to guide brands in both their creative and commercial strategies, helping them thrive in the global fashion market," says Jillian Xin.
Jillian’s ability to bridge the gap between creative vision and market strategy makes her a valuable mentor for emerging designers and brands looking to break into the competitive and rapidly evolving fashion markets in China.
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Senior Buyer at Stitch Fix - Whitney Parkhill Joins WE are COCO
Whitney Parkhill's vast experience across Bloomingdale's, Target, and Stitch Fix has equipped her with the knowledge to guide both established brands and new retailers through an ever-evolving market. Whitney’s focus on data, vendor relationships, and trend analysis has made her a forward-thinking leader in the retail space.
“I’m excited to help new brands find their unique niche and build collections that resonate with the right client,” says Whitney.
LANGUAGES:
English
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WE ARE COCO Launches Global Private Shopping Services, Led by Pippa Mellor, former Net-a-Porter UK & EU Personal Shopping Manager
WE are thrilled to announce the appointment of Pippa Mellor as the Head of VIC Services at WE ARE COCO.
With over 15 years of experience in the luxury fashion retail and e-commerce industry, Pippa brings her extensive expertise in private shopping and client relations to lead our new Global Private Shopping Services.
In this role, Pippa will spearhead the development of a global network of private stylists across the U.S. and the Middle East, acting as a direct point of contact for WE are COCO brands and private shoppers at prestigious our partner retailers such as Harrods, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and Farfetch.
"I’m thrilled to be joining the board of mentors at We Are COCO and working alongside an inspiring team of industry leaders. With 15 years of experience in luxury sales and client development, I’m excited to help brands expand their DTC sales through innovative global luxury private shopping and client development strategies." - Pippa Mellor
Her responsibilities will include providing comprehensive brand training, client services, product updates and exclusive launches, trunk shows and sales incentives.
Pippa’s career includes high-level leadership roles at NET-A-PORTER, MATCHES, Mulberry, and Liberty London. She has consistently demonstrated her ability to build and implement loyalty strategies that nurture existing clients and attract new high-value prospects.
