The fashion industry is built on ambition, creativity, and a whole lot of hustle—both on and off the clock. My 9-to-5 / 5-to-9 offers a firsthand look at how FSF Scholars, Alumni, and industry veterans navigate their careers, from thriving in full-time roles to turning side projects into something more.
Today, we catch up with Adina Barrientos, an FSF Scholar from Milwaukee now living in New York City and working as a Merchandise Planner at Gap. From analyzing global trends to partnering with design, product development, and visual merchandising teams, Adina brings a rare mix of precision and creativity to her role, making sure the right styles hit the floor in the right quantities at the right time.
Hear more from Adina in the video below, where she shares how her Midwestern roots, personal style, and creative lens continue to shape her career in fashion.
Name: Adina Barrientos
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Current City: New York, NY
Graduated from: University of Wisconsin, 2018
Job Title & Company: Merchandise Planner, Gap
FSF Class Year: 2018
Standout FSF Moment: Standing on stage with fellow Scholars at FSF LIVE, being surprised with an award from Peter Sachse, and building a new network of FSF Alumni after moving to NYC.
Wardrobe check: My theory is that the bottom half of your outfit should be the most interesting part, so I’m usually in something like printed linen pants, a vintage skirt, or screen-printed jeans. I’ll pair that with a simple boxy tee to balance it out. Or if I’m feeling lazy (or bold), I’ll just throw on a dress and call it a day.
A typical morning: I start my day by checking emails—first work, then personal—while making breakfast. After that, it’s a little scroll through social media while I sip my matcha. I’m still perfecting my at-home matcha latte recipe, but I’m getting there. I’m currently hybrid, though we’ll be transitioning back to full-time in-office later this year. On my commute, I start with Up First to get caught up on the news, then switch to something more fun like Giggly Squad or Good Hang. Gotta start the day on a good note.
First tasks of the day: Because we have a global team, my inbox fills up overnight. So the first thing I do is reply to those messages, then create a to-do list to organize the day ahead.
Adina launched her street style account, Sidewalk Edition, to spotlight the bold, authentic fashion she saw in her hometown of Milwaukee. Now in NYC, she continues capturing standout looks and the inspiring people behind them. Photo courtesy @sidewalkedition
Midday pause: Most days, I head to the office café with friends and we’ll catch up while we wait for our food. But once I’ve got my lunch, I’m usually back at my desk eating and working. I’d love to make time for more walks during the day, but right now it’s all about keeping things moving.
Back to work: I try to finish most of my daily deliverables by lunch, so I can focus on big-picture strategy in the afternoon. If I’m in the office, I might join my CFT (cross-functional team) in the showroom to work through assortment changes or costing negotiations. I also lead SME (subject matter expert) groups like Open to Buy and Climate, so I’ll spend time discussing divisional strategy and then share updates with the rest of the planning team.
My CFT includes merchandising, design, product development, and planning (me!), and we collaborate constantly, looking at everything from trend direction and financial goals to technical fit and costing. I also work with inventory management to make sure our deliveries are on time, with the promo team to adjust pricing if something’s selling out, and with visual merchandising to see if we can extend markdowns or shift floor space. It’s a lot of coordination, but I love it.
Something unexpected: I don’t think most people realize that planners are the ones who actually buy the units. Merchandisers decide what to buy, but planners decide how much. I like being the person who can say, “This is the right investment for this product.” My background in design, buying, and planning helps me make smarter decisions.
After hours: I don’t log off until I’ve wrapped up everything I need for the next day. I refuse to wake up early just to finish a task before a morning meeting. Way too stressful. If I have time, I’ll stop by a Gap store to check out my assortment in person or pop into a competitor to see how theirs is performing.
In the evenings, I usually head to the gym and then come home to make dinner. I’m a big believer in team bonding, so we’ll head to happy hour now and then, especially in the summer. It’s a great way to reset and connect outside of work.
📲 Follow Adina’s journey: @adinab26 | @sidewalkedition | LinkedIn
