About us: Fashion Design & Development Experts

Techstyle Studio was created to redefine how fashion products are designed and developed.

We believe the traditional development process is slow, wasteful, and outdated. Too many samples are made, too many mistakes are repeated, and too many decisions are made without a clear technical foundation. This has a cost, not just financially, but environmentally.

In response, we developed our Fit-First Technology approach. A fit-led, technically grounded development process that prioritises accuracy early, reduces unnecessary sampling, and supports better decision-making from the outset.

By focusing on fit, structure, and technical clarity first, we help brands develop products more efficiently, save time during development, and significantly reduce waste across the sampling and production process.

Person selecting colors from a color swatch book on a table.

A more considered approach to design and development

Our Fit-First Technology underpins everything we do. It allows us to work faster and more precisely, while also being more environmentally aware.

This approach:

  • Reduces the number of physical samples required
  • Shortens development timelines
  • Minimises rework caused by poor fit or unclear documentation
  • Supports more sustainable and responsible production decisions

Rather than reacting to problems late in the process, we aim to prevent them entirely.

Bringing clarity to a complex industry

Alongside this, we recognise that many founders and brands are navigating product development without clear guidance. Fashion development is often oversimplified, with founders told they only need a designer or a tech pack, without understanding the technical stages that sit behind a successful product.

Part of our role is education. We work closely with our clients to explain the process, the decisions being made, and the implications of those decisions, so they can build stronger products and more resilient businesses over time.

We work with:

  • Fashion startups who want to build their brand thoughtfully and responsibly
  • Established brands looking to improve fit, quality, efficiency, and sustainability in their development process

Our clients value considered design, long-term thinking, and doing things properly, not quickly or cheaply.

Ways to Work With Us

Our approach is hands-on, collaborative, and tailored to each client’s stage and goals. We stay on the tools, personally managing development work and guiding clients through fit, construction, materials, and production readiness.

Whether through direct development support or mentorship, our aim is to create better outcomes for both brands and the environment.

We work with brands at all stages from startups developing their first samples to established labels managing their own production.

Choose the level of support that best fits your setup and goals. 

1. Fit First Library
If you already have internal development processes but need help with fit, you can purchase blocks directly from our website.

These blocks are Fit First templates that can be sent to your factory to adapt and modify for your styles.

They’re pre-fit to Australian standards, giving your team a solid foundation to work from.

2. Established Brands

If you already have your own factory, we can support you from design to technical development and fit seamlessly into your team through a retainer model.

You’ll manage production directly, while we ensure your garments are ready for manufacturing.

You can browse our Block Library to see the base styles we use as a starting point. Each block is pre-fit to Australian standards, meaning you’re starting with a proven fit and can focus on design refinement.

 3. Development & Production Management

If you’d prefer us to handle everything, we offer end-to-end production management through our certified ethical factories locally or offshore.

4. Start Up Mentorship Program and Founders Hub

For brands who want to learn the design and development process and manage production themselves, our mentorship program offers guidance and resources to support you at every step.

Melanie Henderson, Garment Tech

Meet the founders

Mel Henderson is a highly experienced fashion professional with over 25
years in the industry, having worked across New Zealand, London, Melbourne, and now Sydney. Her core strengths lie in product development, fit, and quality assurance. Mel brings deep technical knowledge to all stages of garment creation - from design and construction through to production - with a strong track record of working closely with design teams and managing both local and offshore manufacturing.

Throughout Mel's career she has held senior technical and development roles at brands including bassike, Zimmermann, Country Road, and M.J. Bale. Mel's experience spans menswear, womenswear, childrenswear, and workwear - consistently focused on improving product fit, refining development processes, and delivering high-quality results. Mel has led QA implementation, set up fit standards, managed technical teams, and overseen international development workflows.

This hands-on industry knowledge combined with strategic thinking makes Mel a valuable partner in delivering well-made, commercially successful apparel.

Pirra Griffiths, Designer and Production Director

With over 15 years of experience in the fashion industry, Pirra Griffiths is Techstyle Studios Senior Designer and Production Manager. Her career spans the full product lifecycle, from trend forecasting, design, and development to offshore sampling, factory liaison, and production. She has worked with leading Australian brands including Jets by Jessika Allen, Tigerlily, Camilla, and Dharma Bums, and founded Allerton Swimwear, which featured at Miami Swim Week and was stocked by The Iconic and House of Fraser.

Now at Techstyle Studio, she leads design and production for a wide range of fashion clients, consulting on everything from branding and creative direction to sustainable development. She has lectured at UTS and Billy Blue, and regularly speaks on ethical fashion and design education. Known for her collaborative approach and strong attention to detail, she brings a deep understanding of commercial design and ethical production to every project she works on.