Award-winning young designer's sartorial sass

Simple luxury is key for the debut of this award-winning young designer.

Named last year's winner of the Westpac Young Fashion Designer Competition, Georgia Currie is on the verge of launching her own womenswear label, Georgia Alice, which the young designer describes as "simple luxurious ready to wear with very crisp silhouettes". The first collection, for autumn/winter 2013, came from Currie's love and research of minimalist architecture, Greek mythology and the Arctic, and will be available next year.

Winning the competition was an emotional experience for the young designer, who recently relocated to Auckland from Christchurch. "I was so happy I cried," she says. But behind the emotion was a tactical, business-minded approach. "[The competition] provides an amazing platform for young designers to show what they do and see what else is going on in NZ, which is so important.

"I think in this particular competition it is not only just about design - there is the whole element of public voting, which can sometimes be misconstrued as popularity votes. But it's so important for young designers to realise that the public in the end will decide whether to buy your clothes or not, so hustling the votes, although tiring and maybe slightly annoying for those at the other end, will prevail."

This year's top 10 semi-finalists, announced last week, will likely be making like Currie and courting votes. Public voting to determine this year's finalists is available online now - with the top three going on to showcase their collections at NZ Fashion Week.

(To vote for this year's finalists go to facebook.com/westpacyoungdesigner.)

My style was shaped by ... everything I have seen, the places I have been and lived and of course my wonderful friends.

My earliest fashion memory ... A blue and white striped T-shirt dress that I never took off. Oh, and a sailor suit.

My first shopping experience ... leggings from Harrods in London which had Disney princesses all over them. I would have been about 6.

The designer I respect the most is ... This is the hardest question - I will have to go with my top two. Nicolas Ghesquiere of Balenciaga, and Acne. I guess the underlying reasons for loving those two in particular is purely the strength of their silhouettes and their ability to make ready to wear still slightly odd and structural.

My shopping habits ... are impulsive.

The most treasured item in my wardrobe is ... I was given a Comme des Garcons wallet by my lovely boyfriend two years ago. The perfect size and colour, and it is now starting to wear perfectly. So soft. I treasure it.

My approach to beauty is ... Natural forever. Origins tinted moisturiser is the best.

The last thing I bought ... Sass & Bide black jeans.

A secret store that I love that most people wouldn't know about ... $2 Toffs, an opshop in Christchurch. Everything is $2. A dreamland for those special pieces that complete a poor empty wardrobe.

Chain stores: love or hate? Like - not everyone can afford super-high fashion; chain stores supply quick trends, however they do have a terrible reputation for copying.

Online shopping: love or hate? Love - online is the best thing that ever happened to me. You can get everything/anything you want.

My ultimate fashion plate ... I think I am mostly inspired by my beautiful friends or by people I meet. However I do have a girl crush on stylist Taylor Tomasi Hill, she is such a babe. Her style is totally effortless and her hair is so amazing.

Latest discovery in fashion, beauty, food? I have just moved to Auckland and discovered Satya Indian Restaurant. I particularly love the dahi puri and pani puri. Hourglass superficial lash mascara, from Mecca - wow. My latest fashion discovery is my white on white Converse high tops. They're so perfect.