Range Planning vs. Assortment Planning in Fashion + Assignment & Case Studies
- Gaurav Mandal
- Jul 20
- 3 min read
In fashion business, launching a great collection is never a fluke—it’s a strategic process driven by range planning and assortment planning. These two functions ensure that a brand offers the right mix of styles, silhouettes, sizes, colors, and price points that meet the expectations of its target audience and retail channels.
Let’s break down what each means, how to develop an assortment plan, and analyze 5 real case studies from Indian fashion brands.
1. What is Range Planning?
Range planning is the high-level strategic blueprint of your collection. It outlines:
The number of products/SKUs to be launched
Product categories (tops, dresses, jackets, etc.)
Style count and price architecture (Good–Better–Best)
Design direction, seasonality, and color palette
Target customer and their wardrobe needs
It’s like designing a menu for the season before deciding the serving size.
2. What is Assortment Planning?
Assortment planning takes the range plan and dives deeper into:
Size distribution (S, M, L, XL, XXL)
Colorways (e.g., red, black, green)
Style-level quantity allocation
Channel-specific buying (D2C, retail, export, etc.)
Forecasting what will sell more based on past data
It’s the “how much of what” that informs production, buying, and inventory planning.
3. Key Components of an Assortment Plan
Component | Purpose |
Style Number | Unique ID for each product |
Category | Product group (e.g., Tops, Bottoms, Dresses) |
Size & Color Matrix | Quantity breakdown by size and color |
MRP/Cost Price | Pricing strategy (Good/Better/Best) |
Channel Allocation | Where each product will be sold (website, Nykaa, Pernia’s) |
Quantity Forecast | Number of pieces per SKU, channel, or store |
4. Assignment: Create an Assortment Plan
Instructions:
Choose a category: e.g., Occasionwear Dresses for Festive 2025
Assume your range has 12 styles
Allocate SKUs into 3 pricing tiers: Good, Better, Best
Break down quantity by size (S–XXL)
Include at least 2 colorways per style
Allocate styles across D2C and Marketplace channels
You can use an Excel grid like this:
Style | Category | Tier | Color | S | M | L | XL | XXL | Channel |
DRS01 | Dress | Better | Red | 10 | 20 | 30 | 25 | 15 | Nykaa |
DRS02 | Dress | Good | Green | 5 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 5 | Website |
5. Case Studies: Indian Fashion Brands Using Strategic Assortment
Case Study 1: FableStreet – Officewear for Indian Women
Range Plan: Tops, Blazers, Dresses in muted tones
Assortment Logic: Higher quantity for M & L sizes based on trial fit data
Insight: Used live model feedback to drop poor-fit styles from production
Result: Reduced return rate by 32%, higher conversion in top 4 SKUs
Case Study 2: Global Desi – Ethnic-Fusion for Millennials
Range Plan: 30% Tops, 40% Kurtas, 20% Sets, 10% Dresses
Assortment Strategy: Added plus-size SKUs only in bestsellers
Channel Insight: Short kurtas worked better on Myntra; sets on stores
Result: Maximized per-style profitability across platforms
Case Study 3: Bunaai – Affordable Ethnicwear for D2C
Range Strategy: Introduced limited styles in 3-4 trending colors
Assortment Execution: Used color as the hero variable, not size
Marketing Trigger: Fast inventory rotation created FOMO online
Result: Achieved ₹1 Cr+ monthly sales by prioritizing hero styles
Case Study 4: FabIndia – Slow Fashion with Craft Focus
Range Plan: Kurta sets, dupattas, stoles, handmade blouses
Assortment Plan: Broader color and craft options per style, low quantity per SKU
Store Allocation: Created regional assortments (e.g., Bandhani for Gujarat)
Result: Reduced markdowns, increased perceived uniqueness
Case Study 5: Snitch – Fast Menswear for Gen Z
Range Thinking: High drops, high frequency (weekly newness)
Assortment Planning: Low quantity per SKU, high style count
Channel Focus: 100% D2C control to test which styles go viral
Result: 3x repeat purchase rate via freshness + Instagram buzz
6. Conclusion: Plan Backwards from the Consumer
Range and assortment planning are not just for merchandisers—they are critical tools for designers, marketers, and founders too. A smart assortment ensures:
Less dead stock
Higher sell-through
Stronger storytelling
“In fashion, creating variety without clarity kills profit. Assortment planning brings both.”
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