Project Work

My journey in fashion merchandising has been shaped by a series of projects that blend creativity, technical skills, and strategic thinking. From academic research to hands-on experience, these projects crafted my professional identity and strengthened my ability to succeed in the global fashion industry.

Academic Projects – Master’s Programme (ICL)

As part of my Master of Management studies at ICL Graduate Business School, I completed a report with the highest scores, titled “The impact of Smart Labels in the Fashion industry” under the Business Transformation subject. The report was a literature review exploring how smart technologies such as RFID, NFC, and QR codes are crucial in navigating operational transformation, sustainability concepts, and consumer interaction in the fashion industry. Further, this report critically analyses the contribution of these technologies to significant barriers, such as cost impact, environmental impact, and limitations in small and medium-sized enterprises. I conducted independent research using 27 articles from Google Scholar, ProQuest, Research Gate, and Science Direct. To evaluate the topic, I applied management theories such as RPV Theory, Technology Acceptance Model, Resource-Based View, Triple Bottom Line Theory and Circular Economy Theory. My work also blends academic findings with real-world brands, including Zara, H&M, Louis Vuitton, and Patagonia. This report concludes with recommendations and highlights the existing research gaps, providing meaningful insight for future academic and industry-focused studies.

Undergraduate Research & Coursework

During my Bachelor’s Degree (University in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka), I developed my final-year fashion collection titled “Mysterious Spell” for the Italian fashion brand Fausto Puglisi, who values heritage and classic art. The collection was inspired by Masks in an African Tribe, which represent bold patterns, vibrant colours, and cultural aesthetics. Fashion collection was featured with a reversible clothing concept by creating a room for customers to enjoy multiple styling options from a single garment and further it enriched with sustainability concept by incorporating batik patterns through digital printing- a method that time consuming of traditional batik, minimized dye and energy waste, and enable the technique to apply to fabrics that normally cannot undergo the batik process. Achieving accurate Pantone colour standards across different fabrics and ensuring perfect finishing in reversible garments were key challenges faced during the project. The entire process, starting from concept development, fabric sourcing, pattern making, sewing and final garment presentation, represents my own crafting ability. Being selected for this collection for the prestigious Final Graduation Fashion Show 2016 was one of my greatest achievements in my university life.

Professional Work Experience & Industry Projects

After completing my undergraduate studies, I gained industry experience with globally recognised fashion brands such as Ralph Lauren, NEST, Lacoste, Club Monaco, and Levi’s. During the 9 years in the industry, helped me to translate my academic knowledge into professional practice and crafted me as an expertise in apparel product development. My work involved end-to-end product development, from the design stage to final execution. This involved close collaboration with design teams, suppliers, and other departments to harmonise artistic vision with technical feasibility, budget control, and deadlines. Executing complex designs and engineering prints that aligned with the brand identity and market demand helped me to analyse market trends, customer preferences, and strengthen my decision-making in merchandising. Further, I successfully completed a variety of wash developments, ranging from vintage fades to classic fades to a distressed look to meet the major requirements of Levi’s and Club Monaco. Working with the world-renowned brands not only enhanced my technical expertise but also sharpened my professional skills in communication, teamwork, and the importance of meeting global fashion standards.

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