SIMONE Rocha has scooped the Designer of The Year gong in the annual Glamour Women of the Year awards in London.
The Dublin-born fashionista, who now lives in east London’s Dalston, is a favourite at London’s Fashion Week and a graduate of the city’s prestigious Central Saint Martin’s University.
She joins the likes of Stella McCartney, Alice Temperley and Isabel Marant - all previous winners of the award –after receiving the honour last Tuesday (June 3).
The glitzy ceremony was hosted by Graham Norton in London's Berkeley Square Gardens.
Elsewhere fellow Central Saint Martin’s graduate Fiona O’Neill won a place in the L’Oreal Professional Talent award.
The ‘promising’ womenswear designer took third place in L’Oreal’s annual CSM graduate talent showcase.
It also earned the Dubliner’s collection a mention on Vogue online, describing her painted dress pieces as ‘stiff walking works of art’
The 25-year-old, who hails from Dalkey, now hopes to move her career stateside.
“I’d love to go to New York “said O’Neill, “but I have to wait and see what opportunities come my way.”
“Although you never know what will come your way” she added.
The designer originally studied at the Bray Institute of Further Education, where her teacher pushed her to apply for a highly sought after place at London’s CSM.
“I was really surprised that I got in.” she admits.
“It’s a really good school and because it’s such a tough course everyone becomes really close and family like.”
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