Meet the tutor: Zoran Petrovic

Zoran Petrovic’s origin story has echoes of Charlie Bucket and his gateway to the chocolate factory. Zoran is an accomplished and devoted fashion designer who’s first foray into the world of design, was as magical and serendipitous as Charlie finding that golden ticket.

At just 16 years old, Zoran was flirting with a career in architecture but one afternoon, just like any other afternoon, all that would change. Zoran’s mother had asked him to pick her up a glossy fashion magazine and as he casually flipped through the pages, something caught his eye. It was a fashion design competition that involved sketching ideas and sending them to the magazine. So, Zoran picked up his pencils, sketched some ideas, folded them up and popped them in an envelope.

Every two weeks, Zoran and his mother religiously checked the magazine and every two weeks they were crestfallen. There was no mention of him, no updates and no winner announced at all. Six months later, having long since given up hope, Zoran idly reached for the latest copy of the mag. The pages flopped open and there it was, in black & white, Zoran Petrovic, first prize winner!! He couldn’t believe it. But where were his drawings? He would later discover that the delay, and the reason his sketches were not published was because he had folded them up before posting them off. The creases would have shown up in the printed magazine.

Lesson number one learned and earned!

Win, win!

Bolstered by his achievement, Zoran began to think more like a fashion designer and a little less like an architect. While both professions involve problem solving, structure and creativity, he was leaning more and more towards fashion and particularly, textiles. The happy medium for Zoran was to study textile, engineering, and design. Winning that prize was the encouragement he needed and having won a further 14 prizes for various men, women and children’s designs, it was only a matter of time before Zoran was snapped up and taken to Paris. It was a dream come true for a young design student, but he was only getting started. Paris loved him so much; he was invited to study at the infamous ESMOD school of fashion.

By the time Zoran was 25, he was head of design for a company that employed 4500 people. He then moved to a “smaller” company of 380 people before his home came calling and poached him for a teaching post. Still only 25 years old, Zoran would be teaching people only a few years younger, but he wanted to contribute to then burgeoning fashion industry in his home of former Yugoslavia. Alas, his teaching would be short lived and by the early 90’s his home country would be broken up and Zoran made his way to Austria. It was there he dived into theatre and was designing and making men’s costume. As much as he loved it, there was something missing for him, some sort of spark that was couldn’t find in Austria. 

So, in 1998, Zoran found himself in Australia.

Living in the land down under.

Today he is a pattern and silhouette maker for the illustrious Rebecca Vallance as well as a tutor in the Australian Academy of Fashion Design. Zoran loves to share his knowledge and experience with students and especially respects the all-round nature of the Academy. The course covers the entire design process including history, patterns, illustrations, mood boards and tech production which is right out of the Zoran Petrovic playbook. Many students arrive with an ambition to start their own business and there is plenty in the course to help them get started but there are also others who like the idea of working for someone else which also speaks to Zoran’s belief in the value of teamwork.  He says, “no one can do everything all the time”.

Zoran has a busy and curious mind and believes that if he stops, he will stagnate. It is for this reason that he keeps working as well as teaching. He believes that in order to inspire new designers, he needs to stay relevant and fresh. Technology evolves at such a rapid rate that textiles and fibres are ever changing. His fascination with textiles has never left him and he will “continue to learn until his last breath”.

Always building…

Zoran looks at fashion like he looks at building a house. Every detail is a vital element in the final product, and each must be treated with respect. His philosophy for good design includes quality fabric that feels good, plus strong design that must fit well. He doesn’t see the point in creating clothing for a mannequin or a catwalk; human bodies are all different and fabric will not hang on a mannequin the same way it does on a person. He encourages students to know the basics but to bring a personal touch, their own signature style and to express themselves through the work. He only asks that his students be honest.

An artist at heart, Zoran understand the creative process and will not allow it to be forced. He tells his students to sleep on it, if need be, but don’t be lazy and don’t follow seasonal trends, find your own voice and design for you!

Although fashion is a serious business, Zoran wants people to enjoy it. Together with his students, they talk, draw, and he encourages self-belief. Zoran will discuss films, books, shows, anything that can inspire. Inspiration is all around. He also creates a safe space to share and critique work. Zoran believes in the value of feedback and has found it can often help expose that little “niggling thing that was bothering you”. You learn from feedback.

Live your truth.

The honesty Zoran holds dear is something he believes is also reflected in a garment. Regardless of the cost he believes there is no excuse for shoddy quality. As with the house building analogy, a customer will very quickly see where corners were cut, and just like that, they won’t like the garment. He believes the craft must be respected as the customer doesn’t care about the challenges a designer faces, or even the process, they only see the finished product. Design sells but people can’t be told what is cool, a garment must speak for itself.

Overall, there is an honesty, a truth in Zoran and through fashion he speaks his truth. Don’t lie to the customer, don’t try to be something you are not and whatever you do, don’t try to fool people that your clothing is not what it promises to be!

Zoran is a designer and an empath; he will always put himself in the shoes of the customer. The people are the centre of the industry, and he wants to dress them well. He is a people person who has strong faith in the collaborative process. He holds his students, and himself to high standards.

The Australian Academy of Fashion Design is home to a tutor who loves design as much as loves people. What a lucky bunch of students…