Roxanna Zamani bus after winning award

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Invercargill designer Roxanna Zamani said she doesn't know what jetlag is – it's been all "go, go, go" since she got back to New Zealand on Sunday.

The 24-year-old travelled to Gorizia, Italy, in July as a finalist in the prestigious Mittelmoda Fashion Awards.

Zamani won the Wedding Italian Style Award in Italy, and said while her designs were not intended to be wedding attire, it was cool they had given the award to someone whose designs were not traditional.

"My work is probably a little more avant garde," she said.

She said it was nice to have won an award, as just being there was an honour.

"It's nice that your work can be picked out of 700 applicants."

While overseas, Zamani found out she had won another award, the Fashiontv Oceania Online Design Award. Taking out first prize in the eveningwear/couture category, she was also announced the overall winner, and will showcase her designs at the Perth Fashion Festival this month.

She said winning the award was amazing.

"It's really a privilege to able to get into these competitions and awards, it's not something I take lightly, it's an amazing opportunity."

Still finishing designs for Perth Fashion Week, Zamani was also preparing for Milan Fashion Week (part of her prize from Mittelmoda), and will appear in the September issue of Italian Vogue.

"Someone asked me how I was finding the jetlag the other day," she said. "Jetlag? I don't know what jetlag is, I've been go, go, go since I got back!"

At the moment, Miss Zamani is hoping to be one of three lucky young designers chosen to show at New Zealand Fashion Week as part of the Westpac Young Designer Awards.

Selected as one of the top 10 entries, public voting on Facebook will determine who will compete for the top prize in a live runway walk-off at fashion week in Auckland.

"It's amazing to show at different fashion weeks, but it's really important to me to support New Zealand fashion," she said.

Part of the prize was receiving mentoring from an established designer, a cash prize and business banking advice from Westpac.

Zamani said the competition was an amazing opportunity, and one day she would love to have her own fashion business.

To get Southland's young designer to New Zealand Fashion Week, head to www.facebook.com/westpacyoungdesigner and vote for Roxanna Zamani.

Each person can vote once every day until September 6.

- © Fairfax NZ News