The winner of one of the world's most sought after up and coming designer awards was turned down from design school four years in a row.
Sydney's Nehma Vitols beat more than 30 unique designers from 10 different countries to win the The iD International Emerging Designer Award at the Dunedin fashion show on Thursday night.
Flustered and overwhelmed, she stood next to one of her models dressed in her winning creation's just moments after the announcement.
"There's a lot of people that said no to me, and continue to say no to me, and I just try not to listen to it but it's hard" she said.
Her collection of five pieces including biker and bomber jackets, a trench coat, business shirt and blazer is inspired by a "capsule in time of what was happening in my life last year," she says.
Ms Vitols, who attends the University of Technology Sydney, didn't think she would win.
"I actually thought one of my friends would!"
She will use the $6000 prize money to move to London where she says she dreams of working for top British designer Alexander McQueen.
A panel of international judges, including Swedish designer Paulo Andersson, picked the overall winners, which ranged from designs using innovative fabrics to bold silhouettes and intense colours.
Mr Andersson said the decision was unanimous and despite all the panel's different backgrounds, they picked the same designer.
It were the international designers who stole the show, with second place going to Austria's Lila John for her collection which showcased neutral tone outfits with references to music, movies, magazines.
Melbourne's Emily Cameron was awarded The Emilia Wickstead internship. Ms Wickstead is a New Zealand-born designer now based in London.
Newshub.
