Indrakumar Rajendran

Assistant Manager Merchandising @ ARISE IIP

About

20+ years. 5 countries. Millions of garments. Zero missed seasons. I'm a Merchandising Manager with deep roots in the global apparel and textile industry — having built my career across India, Mauritius, Kenya, West Africa, and beyond. From managing premium brands like Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, PVH (Van Heusen, IZOD, Arrow), and Diesel, to setting up an entire vertical garment factory from scratch in West Africa — I bring hands-on leadership across every stage of the merchandising lifecycle. What I do best: 🔹 End-to-end merchandising — from sampling and costing to bulk production and shipment 🔹 Building and leading merchandising teams in high-pressure, fast-paced environments 🔹 Driving on-time delivery (99% OTD track record) and compliance excellence (CTPAT, SQP, WRAP) 🔹 Costing, margin analysis, and price negotiation with international buyers 🔹 Sourcing fabrics & trims from China, Hong Kong, and India 🔹 Managing buyer relationships across the US, Europe, and Africa Categories: Knitwear | Wovens | Denim | Shirts | Bottoms | Childrenswear ERP Tools: SAP HANA | GTN | FIT | Stage | Centrix | Nexus 📍 Currently based in West Africa | USA Visa Holder | Open to Opportunities Worldwide 📩 Open to: Merchandising Manager, Senior Merchandiser, Head of Merchandising roles 📧 indra1984kumar@gmail.com

Country

Benin

City

Cotonou

Industry

Apparel & Fashion

Skill

Marketing, Business Analysis, Microsoft Word, Import/Export Operations, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft PowerPoint, Textiles, Sourcing, Wovens, Apparel, Merchandising, Denim, Purchasing, Fashion, Apparel Sourcing, Knitwear, Trend, Retail, Textile Industry

Experience

Assistant Manager Merchandising

ARISE IIP

2022-7 - Present · 4 yrs 3 mos

Cotonou, Littoral, Benin

Senior Merchandiser - Woven Products ( Tops & Bottoms)

Neelkamal Group

2015-12 - 2022-7 · 6 yrs 8 mos

Kenya

• Managed multiple accounts independently, ensuring effective communication with buyers and internal departments. • Sourced suppliers, trims, and fabrics to meet production needs while adhering to tight timelines. • Coordinated import documentation and collaborated with production and purchasing teams to streamline operations.

Sr.Merchandiser - Denim Products

Firemount Textiles Ltd

2011-8 - 2015-10 · 4 yrs 3 mos

Mauritius

• Spearheaded product development and order execution for denim products, ensuring timely shipment. • Managed raw material sourcing from key markets including China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. • Fostered strong communication with buyers and coordinated internal departments for seamless operations. • Monitored production status and provided regular updates to buyers, enhancing transparency and trust.

Merchandiser

RBR Garments pvt ltd

2008-4 - 2011-5 · 3 yrs 2 mos

Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, India

Product costing, Developments, sourcing the supplier, fabric programming , trims sourcing, Production followup and quality review and make sure the quality standard, co ordination with onternal depts, buying office and buyer communications.

MERCHANDISER -DENIM PRODUCTS

KG Denim Limited

2005-3 - 2008-2 · 3 yrs

Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

• Developed new denim product samples, ensuring alignment with client specifications and market trends. • Coordinated with internal departments and buyers' offices to streamline production processes. • Maintained effective communication with clients to foster strong relationships and address their needs.