Turtle joins the prestigious ranks of Vivienne Westwood, Michelle Jank and a host of international designers that Chin has worn behind the newsdesk.

Turtle won a Canberra Institute of Technology fashion competition to design Chin's outfit for Thursday's fashion photography exhibition Strike a Pose opening, but Chin said she wasn't about to discard the dress in the back of her wardrobe.

''I feel as though Natalie captured something of me and my personality in this design, I'm really quite touched,'' Chin said of the multi-panelled calico dress. ''Natalie's design and finishing is just beautiful and I love the fact that much of it is handmade.''

Turtle, who graduated from CIT in fashion, said she would use this envious starting point to create her own label named By The Wing. ''Winning this competition has made me realise I should have the confidence to get out there and design my own range,'' Turtle said.

Turtle wore an elegantly draped ochre dress to the exhibition opening with delicately crocheted hems.

''My grandmother and I sat up all night crocheting,'' Turtle said. ''My mother's side is Colombian, and I take a lot of inspiration from Colombia in my designs.''