Paolo Sebastian

Paolo Sebastian is an Australian couture house founded in Adelaide in 2007 by designer Paul Vasileff. It is known for hand-embroidered and beaded gowns worn on international red carpets.

What is Paolo Sebastian?

Paolo Sebastian is a couture fashion house with its atelier in Adelaide, South Australia. It focuses on traditional craftsmanship, releasing two collections a year that often feature hand-embroidered fabrics and beading.

History

Paul Vasileff launched the label in 2007 at the age of 17, after studying in Adelaide and at the Istituto Europeo di Design in Milan. Paolo Sebastian closed the Adelaide Fashion Festival in 2015 and 2016, held private showings in Paris in 2016 and presented couture collections during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week in 2017, 2018 and 2023. In 2017 it released the 34-piece Once Upon A Dream collection with Disney and was the subject of an exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia.

Products and positioning

The core business is couture and bespoke gowns. Paolo Sebastian designs have appeared at the Academy Awards, the Met Gala and the Cannes and Venice film festivals, worn by names such as Kerry Washington, Katy Perry and Hilary Swank. In 2023 the house added an Italian-made shoe line centred on its Swan Lake ballet pump and a scarf collection.

Distribution

The house works directly with private clients and stylists and with stockists internationally.

Why it matters

Paolo Sebastian demonstrates that a couture house based outside the traditional fashion capitals can build an international profile through Paris presentations and celebrity dressing.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the designer behind Paolo Sebastian?

Paolo Sebastian was founded in 2007 by Adelaide designer Paul Vasileff, who launched the label at 17.

Where is Paolo Sebastian based?

The couture house has its atelier in Adelaide, South Australia.

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