Natasa Pitra Grbic
Wollert,Australia
Summary
Compassionate designer, leader and mentor willing to take on any challenge and offering several years of related work experience in fashion and business. Outgoing and kind team player excited to work with people. Skilled in promoting the development of skills and helping each person develop to maximum potential.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Creative Director/Designer/Founder and Consultant
NATASA PITRA
02.2023 - Current
- Founder and designer of Melbourne based womenswear label PITRA
- Consulting emerging and established brands and companies across design and production
Senior Academic Mentor (Entrepreneurship & Fashion)
LCI Melbourne
06.2021 - Current
- Creating/Writing unit assessments, outlines and weekly lectures across the Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (Creative Industries) course
- Currently I have written units Entrepreneurship Fundamentals, Management Fundamentals, and working on Business & Digital Disruption, Global Entrepreneurship, Start up Lab and Leadership & Management Units
- Actively participating in events around mentoring and LCI Melbourne's network system within Fashion and Entrepreneurship
- Unit Coordination (Auditing) for first trimester units in the Bachelor of Design Arts
- Creating/Writing the Diploma of Fashion for delivery in 2026
- Providing class time for consulting and mentoring students in fashion and business
- Writing workshops for outside peers to apply or be involved in LCI Melbourne
- Fashion workshop around mood boarding early 2023 and the latest writing of the first ever 'The Entrepreneur Canvas' workshop delivered in October 2024
- Using rubric templates to fully assess assessments in accordance with LCI's procedures
- Teaching Fashion students Technical Design in Fashion and Costume
- Teaching Lab2/3 Global Design pathways to year 2 and 3 students
- Teaching Visual Arts, Contextual units and Social Trend forecasting units to first- and second-year students
- Implementing reasonable teaching adjustments for students with an ELP (Equitable Learning Plan)
- Contributing to student nights and industry placements, mentoring from industry level
- Implementing all administrative requirements within teaching load and delivery of units across both Bachelor degrees
General Manager of Apparel (Design & Development)
FILA Australia (SM Brands)
09.2017 - 02.2023
- Designing men's, women's and children swear for Retail account in Australia/NZ and directing all design for wholesale accounts - Amazon/City Beach/Costco/Harris Scarf and other wholesalers
- Designing a separate tennis collection - worn by Ash Barty in 2021
- Researching / analyzing trends
- Analyze sales trends/sell thru's and plan accordingly
- Develop storyboards - via Illustrator
- Illustrate all CAD's
- Costings / line lists
- Liaising with offshore factories in China
- Liaise with pattern maker/ factories to ensure consistency of fit
- Develop specs packs for Factories
- Review and authorize all QC process (fit/lab dips /trims/fabrics etc.)
- Amend spec/fit samples
- Control and manage all production of retail range and basics range for Australia and NZ
- Regular communication with store managers
- Working closely with the shipping/operations team to ensure all product is delivered on time
- Manage stock on hand and allocation to stores Australia wide
- Ensure all orders are delivered on time - adherence to a timeline - range development/cads / costing/order placement/ delivery from factory
- Sketching and creative seasonal calendar/look book for Fila Australia
Sessional Lecturer
The Masters of Creative Education
07.2019 - 07.2020
- Teaching first year Fashion students in the Bachelor program Fashion Management Principles and using my industry knowledge/experience to reflect on the theory of the subject
Production/Development Manager
HUSK
09.2016 - 09.2017
- Developing and Maintaining Critical Path
- Managing all local and offshore production for Husk Apparel, bags and shoes
- Sourcing and ordering of trims and raw materials
- Managing all lab dips, approvals and bulk sign offs
- Working in conjunction with the Designer during hand over of styles to pattern makers locally
- Creating tech packs and specs for offshore production
- Measuring samples and bulk for QC
- Checking all graded specs and approving for bulk
- Managing both knitwear and leather production
- Attending all fit sessions, writing fit comments and liaising with factories to ensure all changes are clearly communicated
- Managing B.O.M's for Apparel and Accessories
- Tracking all samples and deliveries
- Raising purchases orders for production, bulk trims and fabrics
- Running cost comparisons to ensure styles are in line with margins for profit of the business
- Maintaining all factory relationships with Husk
- Ensuring Husk's standards are met via production and development within Apparel and Shoes
- Managing patterns and grading for local production
- Actively calculating margins and paper work to work out costings,etc
- Managing liability stocks
- Managing internal assistants and interns
Production & Development Tutor
The Fashion Darling Online Course
07.2017 - 07.2017
- Creating and teaching the production module of the Fashion business online course
Production & Design Manager
MISHA Collection
01.2016 - 09.2016
- Range planning with Creative Director and Design team
- Managing the critical path of design to production
- Sourcing fabrics and trims, ordering sampling and for bulk
- Monitoring production to ensure shipment and delivery time frames are met
- Identifying and preventing potential production problems
- Creating and maintaining production and design schedules, and regularly reporting this to the Creative director and design team
- Assisting the Creative director and design team with inspiration and notifying the team of any production issues with new designs
- Coordinating fitting sessions and communicating any key problem areas to the correct factory
- Coordinating all aspects of import logistics, customs clearance, shipping and freight documentation etc and conducting regular reviews of freight and shipping costs
- Raising purchase orders for production, bulk trims and fabrics
- Identifying and preventing potential production problems
- Developing relationships both onshore and offshore to ensure ongoing efficiency
- Quality Control - implementing strategic ways to ensure all quality control is met and dealing with both factories and customers to ensure it is at its best
- Monitoring the manufacturing process by regular communication with offshore manufacturers to ensure styles are being manufactured according to specification
- Managing patterns and grading for local production
- Coordinating the design teams work flow to make sure it correlates with the critical path
- Managing and creating each seasons buy plan for budgets for the production and design team, this including pricing of fabrics ,make and shipping
- Tracking shipping information or each drop and communicating it with the rest of the team
- Continuing to source new suppliers for fabrics, trims and manufacturing, and organizing meetings with them
Production/Workroom Coordinator
NICHOLAS the label
01.2015 - 12.2015
- Coordinating fit sessions with design through to PP stage, assisting with any fit comments or finishing/fabric suggestions to improve the quality and fit of the garment
- Assisting the workroom and design with development in terms of make and finishing garments
- Managing mainline and diffusion line (N/Nicholas) patterns from sample stage to grading
- Coordinating Knitwear production/development
- Coordinating Leather production/development
- Creating tech packs for offshore factories for denim, leather and knitwear
- Coordinating local denim production for wash and creating specifications for the laundry
- Frequent use of Adobe illustrator for offshore communication
- Coordinating Salesman sampling with design and work room to organize first ranges to be created in time for sales, etc
- Knitwear and Leather grading and specs for offshore factories
- Ordering and sourcing of raw materials and trims for production
- Coordinating diffusion line's denim both local and offshore
- Raising production orders and giving out orders to makers, negotiating make price, etc
- Sticking to a timeline and production cancellation dates for customers offshore and locally, to make sure production is out and ready on time
- Quality Control
- Fabric Estimates for design and production
Freelance Fashion Writer
06.2009 - 12.2015
- I wrote articles for Style Melbourne, Onya magazine, Australian Fashion guide, Fjorde Magazine, FASHIONTREND magazine, Stylezilla, Hitched.com.au and Fashion Weekly Magazine
Trims/Development Coordinator
Scanlan & Theodore
07.2013 - 01.2015
- Development: Product Development with all raw materials and trims, including working closely with pattern makers on every style to develop, create suitable raw materials to finish off the garment
- Frequent use of Adobe Illustrator and Microsoft Excel to create tech drawings, fit comments and record orders, etc
- Working closely with the head designer on developing styles with trims, linings, fusings,etc
- Researching and sourcing raw materials (trims,linings,fusings)
- Using local and offshore suppliers
- Working closely with the fabric buyer to track fabric shipments for upcoming styles and production
- Also, knowledge in choosing appropriate care labels for each fabric
- Working with Knitwear to create appropriate care labels for different yarns, also sourcing trims for knitwear styles
- Sourcing metal hardware for the Accessories department
- Buying and sourcing trims and all labeling/branding
- Working with the leather department to source appropriate raw materials
- Attention to detail - checking over specifications to make sure all is correct before grade and issue
- Suggesting trims and raw materials for certain garments, styles and fabrics
- Identifying any problem areas of raw materials and finding a solution
- Using dyers, pleaters, etc
- Working closely with the workroom - sample machinists, cutter and pattern makers
- Working with the accessories department - bags/belts/etc
- Souring linings and fusings for styles
- Coordinating fabrics and raw materials
Production Coordinator
Darnee Fashions
01.2010 - 07.2013
- Foreseeing and assisting in all production of ladies designer wear sample garments before any finalisations are made for production
- Working closely with the Design and Production teams
- Occasionally using Illustrator to sketch garments or create specs
- Daily use of Excel for WIP's, spread sheets , etc
- Overseeing all Production from design/pattern to sample then production
- Organising all trims, makers, labels and tags for each style
- Liaising with other production departments
- Assisting in the making of production and making sure any errors are fixed
- Admin duties including; paper work and data entry, invoicing, banking, accounts payable, etc
- Quality Control
- Liaising with trim suppliers
- Tracking all styles/inventory for each designer label
Product Developer
Garrods Lane SYDNEY
04.2009 - 12.2009
- Product development - mood boards, stories, sourcing trends, fabrics
- Design specifications whilst also abiding by the target market/audience and merchandise
- Liaising with manufacturers overseas (Thailand)
- Online based tailoring store - managing sales, merchandise, products
- Online and also photo shoots
- PR/Marketing - Online Marketing plans and strategies to improve sales
- Writing press releases and media kits, liaising with media and target markets
- Coordinating Social Networking/Marketing
- Liaising with clients for advertising/PR/marketing
- Assisting in all Designs of men's shirts
- Making fabric boards/swatches
- Choosing seasonal ranges for fabric selection
- Maintaining the showroom (merchandising)
- Measuring customers for tailored fitting suits/shirts
- QC
- Sales showroom/online
- Processing orders/general administration work
Education
Master - Fashion Entrepreneurship
RMIT University
06-2026
Short Course - Fabrics for Designers
London College of Fashion (Dubai Campus)
12.2013
Pattern Making -
CAE (Centre of Adult Education)
12.2012
Fashion Design - Sketching
CAE (Centre of Adult Education)
12.2012
Diploma - Fashion Business
FBI Fashion College
SYDNEY12.2010
Bachelor of Arts - Professional Writing and Communications
Victoria University
Melbourne12.2009
Skills
- Sewing
- Patternmaking
- Microsoft Word Office - Advanced
- Adobe Illustrator
- Apparel 21
- Creative thinker
- Writing
- Design leadership
- Design
- Creative team leadership
Internships
- Dolly Magazine Formal Wear Expo Fashion show, 06/01/09, Backstage dresser and stylist
- David Jones Fashion Spring/Summer 2009 show, 08/01/09, Backstage dresser and stylist
- SHOP til you drop Magazine, 10/01/09, Fashion department assistant
- Rachel Gilbert Sydney, 11/01/09, Head office assistant
- CHIC in the city, 02/01/10, Style and fashion reporter/ stylist
- New Idea magazine, 02/01/10, Fashion department assistant
References
- Jac Weatherly, Production Manager, Scanlan & Theodore, Upon Request only
- Dany Tawk, Darnee Fashions, 125 Nicholson St, Brunswick East, VIC, 3057, 03 9380 6811, 0419 569 798
- Anna Balis, Production Manager, Nicholas - Green with Envy, 0447 999 009
- Kirrily Johnston, Creative Director, HUSK, Upon request only
Accomplishments
- 2024 Australian Champions Small Business Award Winner for Fashion Designer Category
- 2024 Global Sourcing Expo, Melbourne: Created and Delivered Production and Sourcing Workshop
- 2024 Cairns Fashion Week Innovation Award nominee, PITRA
- 2024 LCI Melbourne created the Diploma of Fashion in accordance with TEQSA guidelines
- 2024 Melbourne Spring Fashion Week: Business Talks - Facilitated seminar
- 2024 LCI Melbourne created and delivered the first entrepreneurship workshop for students and the public
- 2024 PayPal Melbourne Fashion Week showcased PITRA
- 2023 Melbourne Spring Fashion Week showcased PITRA
- 2023 British Vogue featured PITRA in the October, November, and December issues
- 2024 Cairns Fashion Week featured PITRA
- 2023 PayPal Fashion Week showcased PITRA in the independent program
- 2021 Guest Panelist for the Victorian VET Fashion Design Forum
- 2021 Wimbledon - designed trailblazer tee for No. 1 Ash Barty
- 2021 FILA Museum, Biella, Italy - Designs for FILA showcased
- 2020, The Masters Institute of Creative Education - Unit Coordinator for Sustainability and publishing their Sustainable Fashion Course
- 2019 VAMFF - Showcasing PITRA as a part of the independent program
- 2017 - The Fashion Darling Course - writing and delivering the Production module for the Fashion Business online course
- 2016 - RAW Adelaide, showcasing PITRA
- 2016 - Swinburne University - Completing a leadership skills microcredential
- 2015 - RAW Melbourne, showcasing PITRA
Languages
English
Full Professional
Serbian
Professional
Timeline
Creative Director/Designer/Founder and Consultant
NATASA PITRA
02.2023 - Current
Senior Academic Mentor (Entrepreneurship & Fashion)
LCI Melbourne
06.2021 - Current
Sessional Lecturer
The Masters of Creative Education
07.2019 - 07.2020
General Manager of Apparel (Design & Development)
FILA Australia (SM Brands)
09.2017 - 02.2023
Production & Development Tutor
The Fashion Darling Online Course
07.2017 - 07.2017
Production/Development Manager
HUSK
09.2016 - 09.2017
Production & Design Manager
MISHA Collection
01.2016 - 09.2016
Production/Workroom Coordinator
NICHOLAS the label
01.2015 - 12.2015
Trims/Development Coordinator
Scanlan & Theodore
07.2013 - 01.2015
Production Coordinator
Darnee Fashions
01.2010 - 07.2013
Freelance Fashion Writer
06.2009 - 12.2015
Product Developer
Garrods Lane SYDNEY
04.2009 - 12.2009
Master - Fashion Entrepreneurship
RMIT University
Short Course - Fabrics for Designers
London College of Fashion (Dubai Campus)
Pattern Making -
CAE (Centre of Adult Education)
Fashion Design - Sketching
CAE (Centre of Adult Education)
Diploma - Fashion Business
FBI Fashion College
Bachelor of Arts - Professional Writing and Communications
Victoria University
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