Miami.- The Miami Herald today reports on a a young Dominican designer. She expects to launch her own line in the spring.

Staring through the window of a neighborhood seamstress in her native Dominican Republic, Rucht -- then a 10-year old little girl -- began to dream about designing women attire.

Eager to repeat the techniques she observed, Rucht D'Oleo, convinced her mother she was old enough to handle a needle. Soon she was selling school mates her own creations for a buck or two: miniature swimsuits and wedding dresses for their dolls.

Today, D'Oleo is staunchly passionate about couture.

''I am fascinated by fashion, to me it's like an endless movie that you can watch, scene after scene, and never get bored,'' Rucht told the Herald.

She graduated from a technical school in Santo Domingo; then, she made her way to Miami to attend Miami International University of Art and Design where she earned a degree in fashion design.

''The United States is a country of many opportunities, I was doing OK [in Santo Domingo] but I want to do the best,'' according to Rucht.

The move proved just right.

After a few small freelance jobs for designers Fernando Garcia, Julian Chang and Ash Rana, D'Oleo is now ready to launch her own line, Rucht D'Oleo Designs, with a Spring-Summer 2006 collection available in early April at Toff and Julian Chang.

''I wanted to create something different and comfortable,'' said Rucht, ``because my woman, my inspiration, doesn't follow the norms, my woman is a free woman.''

Her style is of comfortable, albeit sexy pastel creations in linen, cotton and silk -- with a recurrent 'Shirr' and bolero theme.