Romance Was Born Wins SOYA

Sydney-based label Romance Was Born received $10,000 in cash and flights and a mentorship with Nicky and Simone Zimmermann last night after winning the fashion category of the Qantas Spirit Of Youth Awards (SOYA).

The prize is the latest in a string of awards for design duo Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett, who also took out the Woolmark Designer Award at L'Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival and the Prix de marie claire Award for Best Creative Talent earlier this year.

The SOYA grant was presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art, where looks by all of the fashion finalists - including Arnsdorf's Jade Sarita Arnott and Gary Bigeni - were showcased by live models. An interactive exhibition at the event also displayed finalists' works from the categories of industrial and object design, film, photography, visual arts, visual communications and music.

Held annually, SOYA offers grants to young creatives, helping past winners to produce exhibitions, record albums or pursue further learning.

Find out more at www.soya.com.au