Nataliya Stepura

Nataliya Stepura is an international fashion designer, master dressmaker, and owner of Natalia’s Fashion Studio in Lower Hutt. With over 25 years of practice in Ukraine and New Zealand, she specializes in bespoke dressmaking, custom patternmaking, and innovative garment construction.

Teaching Philosophy & Expertise

Nataliya brings a creative, hands-on approach to community education, inspiring students to tackle challenging projects and express their individual style. Her technical range spans the complete garment life cycle—from initial sketch and patternmaking to industrial machine construction. She is exceptionally skilled in:

• Diverse Materials: Wovens, knits, leather, vinyl, and non-woven fabrics.
• Mixed Techniques: Traditional draping and flat patternmaking combined with modern tech like laser cutting, 3D printing, and virtual garment visualization.
• Creative Problem-Solving: Finding optimal, non-standard solutions for complex fits and custom design challenges.

Highlights & Achievements

• New Zealand Fashion Week: Created and presented two complete menswear and womenswear collections for Miromoda (2019 & 2021).
• Product Innovation: Collaborated with Beautiful Audio as a product designer, developing custom magnetic headphone covers.
• Community & Culture: Co-created Dobre Fashion alongside textile designer Mitchell Manuel, showcasing works at local and international cultural events.

Nataliya welcomes students of all levels looking to build solid foundations, master complex materials, or bring their own unique wardrobe ideas to life.