Rajapathige Dona Christeen Maheshie Perera
Kesbewa , Piliyandala.,Sri Lanka
Summary
I began my career in the clothing industry as a design coordinator. Since then, I have worked as a product developer, a nightwear fashion designer, and a garment technologist. All of these jobs have been enjoyable for me, but being a garment technologist stands out because of the challenging tasks I had to manage throughout the lifetime of a garment, from design to manufacturing, as well as the dynamic work atmosphere. For top-notch outcomes, take a meticulous approach to fitting, samples, and specifications.
In addition to this, I work as a freelance cake decorator who specializes in creating edible birthday cake toppers. I also do fabric prints and fashion illustration work. Those are the major activities I like and keep me occupied.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Garment Technologist
Hela Apparel- VF Corporation - Dickies
Colombo, Sri Lanka
10.2023 - Current
- Maintain detailed technical packs, including construction details, stitching and seam specifications, Bill of Materials (BOM), and measurement charts with tolerances and grading, as per brand requirements.
- Work with pattern makers to fine-tune ergonomic designs for functional workwear (e.g., reinforced knee panels, gusseted crotches, articulated elbows).
- Conduct risk analysis meetings with pattern makers, the IE team, sewing technicians, mechanics, sourcing team, and fabric technologists to identify and mitigate potential production risks.
- Resolve technical discrepancies in the tech pack with the brand’s technical designer and ensure the updated version is used for sampling.
- Oversee the sample-making process, providing technical expertise to ensure accurate sample production for brand approval.
- For washed garments, coordinate with the sourcing and fabric technology teams to ensure accurate fabric shrinkage is accounted for in the pattern.
- Conduct sample checks against the brand's tech pack and measurements, ensuring they fall within tolerance.
- Organize sample fit sessions using brand-standard dummy forms, capture inner and outer garment images, document all sample comments, and upload them to the vendor portal and FlexPLM.
- Collaborate with the design and sourcing teams on new development samples for yearly brand visits, considering gaps in the current brand, competitor offerings, and customer feedback
Freelance Garment Technologist
Sappro Clothing ( Aadhira Collection )
Piliyandala, Sri Lanka
05.2019 - 10.2023
- Managed the critical path, highlighting potential issues for effective and efficient resolution.
- Sourcing fabrics and accessories from local suppliers according to hardcover office wear designs from the design team.
- Make sure fabric testing ( colour fastening, shrinkages, print & colour) sample approvals are ready on time for the bulk cut.
- Attending to fittings of prototype sample sessions on dummy / live model and gives comments on the amendments to be done.
- Work closely with local suppliers and out sourcing manufacturing plants production units to ensure high-quality standards throughout the production process.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams, including designers, merchandisers, and suppliers.
- Identified and resolved technical challenges in garment production.
Deputy Garment Technologist
KOJ Group
Oud Metha, Dubai
07.2015 - 08.2017
- www.nayomi.com/en/
- Handling Casual / Glamour promo satin collection / Mix and match ladies night wear / Jalabia Tech packs / Bridal glamour nightwear and fit comments from development to Pre-production samples for all four seasons and style wise nearlystyles annually
- Organizing live fit model fitting according to the season's priority
- Approving Print strike off /Lab dips/Trims according to the required design CADs provided to the supplier
- Approving fabric qualities according to the required fabric quality from the supplier., UK /USA /New Zealand / Australia / Netherland by designing shoes , clothing / hand bags / Ties using adobe illustrator and adobe photoshop.
- Worked with India, China, Bangladesh & Dubai suppliers and factories to ensure clear communication and error-free sample and production processes.
- Managed the critical path, highlighting potential issues for effective and efficient resolution.
- Conducted weekly fit sessions with design team and QA team, providing detailed diagrams and comments for supplier instructions.
- Implemented diligent quality control measures for enhanced production outputs.
- Improved manufacturing efficiency by implementing upgraded processes and systems.
- Identified manufacturing issues quickly to minimise lost time and resources.
- Produced size specifications at each sampling stage to develop and improve products in line with company guidelines.
Nightwear Fashion Designer
Annabelle Fashion LLC
, Dubai
01.2013 - 01.2015
- Dubai https://annabelleme.com/
- Mainly dealing with Disney ladies and kids night wears also have designed for UK market such as “peacocks” / “TJ Hughes” / “Jane Norman” etc …
- Doing all the sketchers using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, Free hand sketching if needed.
- Also all the AOP (all over print) and different placement prints creating according to customers demand.
- Getting approvals for the print patterns for each and designs for the season collection from the head management.
- Coordinating with manufacturing garments in overseas mainly with china suppliers and India.
- Maintaining all the silhouettes in design library to use in future and compare with best sellers etc...
- Having weekly meetings with head design manager and working on the designs accordingly.
- Working closely with the regional Disney office in Dubai to get the latest design elements access and get approvals for the print designs made for the Disney licensee nightwear's.
Assistant Product Developer
NEXT Sourcing
Colombo, Sri Lanka
09.2012 - 01.2013
- Collaborated closely with UK NEXT head office product development team & Design Team to bring new product concepts to life according to their tend forecasts and mood boards to the each seasons.
- Evaluated material quality and compliance with design and quality standards.
- Assisted in the sourcing of fabrics and get down the fabric strike offs to check the quality , design, color for product development.
- Keeping all the fabric strike off records approved and to use others for the future use if needed.
- Follow-up with the fabric mills to get the fabric samples , strike offs to start the prototype sample on time to the sample room.
Assistant Design Co-ordinator
The Buying House (Pvt) Ltd
Bandaragama, Sri Lanka
01.2006 - 06.2011
- Has to deal with products and marketed under the brand names of Bay Trading, Next, Jane Norman, ASOS, Debenhams, Miss S , River Island & BHS etc ..
- Developing Sketches for European Buyers ( To UK Buying office ) when needed.
- Handing Sample Process such as Washing / Pleating / Embroidery / Beading etc…
- Creating Embroidery art works according to the actual scale manually.
- Doing various beading methods & designs basically for Chiffon/ Georgette Fabrics
- E-mail & Faxed Communications from London Office and inform dead lines and relative information
- Planning the Pattern / Cutting & Sawing Schedules to meet that the details given from UK design team.
- Follow up all costing & fabric rating and maintain clear records
- Order trims for sample process with our merchandises such as Lace, Beads, Zippers , Buttons, Cotton tape & special trims etc...
- Sending sampling all on time finished packed and keeps records on sending and receiving goods to the sample room in Sri Lanka.
- Introducing easy and fastens methods for the beading and other handwork processes to make sure the bulk production goes smoothly and deliver goods on time as per the timeline given.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Fashion Design
London Metropolitan University (UK)
United Kingdom 03.2025 -
Masters in Fashion Business Management - Fashion Business Management'
University Of Westminster
UK 05.2021 - 08.2023
Diploma In fashion design - Fashion Design
Selak School of fashion Design
Boralasgamuwa, Sri Lanka 2010 - 2011
Computer Aided Pattern Drawing, Grading & Marker MakingCourse (Lectra System) in the - Design
Clothing Industry Training Institute
Sri Lanka 04.2006 - 05.2006
Pattern Cutting, Grading and Styling Development - Design
Clothing Industry Training Institute
Sri Lanka 02.2006 - 04.2006
NVQ Level 4 - Cake Decorator
National Youth Service Council
Sri Lanka 09.2023 - 09.2024
Basic footwear manufacturing Training program - Footwear manufacturing
Industrial Development Board
Moratuwa, Colombo District 07.2011 - 07.2011
A-Levels - Arts
St. Lawrence Convent , Wellawatte
Sri Lanka 01.2002 - 12.2005
GCSEs -
Good Shepherd Convent , Kandy
Sri Lanka 01.1995 - 12.2002
Skills
- Adept in all types of fit sessions
- Detail driven
- Excellent time management
- Technical Drawing ( Expert in Adobe Illustrator )
- Decision-Making
- Critical Thinking
- Self-Motivated
- Organization and Time Management
- Active Listening
- Attention to Detail
- Well organized in work
Affiliations
- 1997 - Member of the Under 13 Net Ball team
- 1998 - Member of the Under 15 Net Ball team
- 2000 - Member of the Senior Band
- 2001 - 2002 Member of the Senior Choir
- 2001 - 2002 Member of the Environment Society
- 2002 - Member of the Under 17 Net Ball team
- 2002 - Member of the Under 19 Net Ball team
- 2003 - Member of the Photographic Society
- 2004 - Secretary of the Sinhala Literary Association
- 2015- Present - Freelancing in fashion illustrations/ Fabric prints etc..
- 2017 - Participated in Art Exhibition held in Dubai art gallery
- 2019 - Present- Started own business in making cake edible toppers for all kind of cakes.
Languages
English
Advanced
Sinhala
Native
Hindi
Elementary
Tamil
Elementary
Certification
Under going on the VF Corporation - Dickies - CFT training for the Brand representatives.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Bachelor of Arts - Fashion Design
London Metropolitan University (UK)
03.2025 -
Senior Garment Technologist
Hela Apparel- VF Corporation - Dickies
10.2023 - Current
NVQ Level 4 - Cake Decorator
National Youth Service Council
09.2023 - 09.2024
Masters in Fashion Business Management - Fashion Business Management'
University Of Westminster
05.2021 - 08.2023
Freelance Garment Technologist
Sappro Clothing ( Aadhira Collection )
05.2019 - 10.2023
Deputy Garment Technologist
KOJ Group
07.2015 - 08.2017
Nightwear Fashion Designer
Annabelle Fashion LLC
01.2013 - 01.2015
Assistant Product Developer
NEXT Sourcing
09.2012 - 01.2013
Basic footwear manufacturing Training program - Footwear manufacturing
Industrial Development Board
07.2011 - 07.2011
Computer Aided Pattern Drawing, Grading & Marker MakingCourse (Lectra System) in the - Design
Clothing Industry Training Institute
04.2006 - 05.2006
Pattern Cutting, Grading and Styling Development - Design
Clothing Industry Training Institute
02.2006 - 04.2006
Assistant Design Co-ordinator
The Buying House (Pvt) Ltd
01.2006 - 06.2011
A-Levels - Arts
St. Lawrence Convent , Wellawatte
01.2002 - 12.2005
GCSEs -
Good Shepherd Convent , Kandy
01.1995 - 12.2002
Diploma In fashion design - Fashion Design
Selak School of fashion Design
2010 - 2011
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