Paolo Sebastian
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Paul Vasileff |
| Headquarters | Adelaide , Australia |
| Products | Couture fashion, luxury footwear, scarves |
| Website | paolosebastian |
Paolo Sebastian is a distinguished Australian fashion house established in 2007 by designer Paul Vasileff. Operating out of Adelaide, South Australia, the brand is celebrated for its elaborate creations that pay homage to classic artisanal techniques.
History
At the age of seventeen, Paul Vasileff founded Paolo Sebastian following his education at Adelaide Technical College and Milan's Istituto Europeo di Design. Initially focused on bespoke local commissions, the label has since expanded into a globally recognized couture brand catering to clients, stylists, and retailers around the world.
In 2016, the label unveiled its Autumn/Winter Gilded Wings collection in Paris, garnering widespread praise from critics. Subsequently, luxury retailer Moda Operandi hosted a trunk show featuring this collection.
Paolo Sebastian concluded both the 2015 and 2016 Adelaide Fashion Festivals with fully booked runway presentations, notably including international model Coco Rocha in the 2016 show.
The Autumn/Winter 16/17 Reverie collection was introduced by Paolo Sebastian during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week in July 2017.
A notable collaboration with The Walt Disney Company was announced in October 2017, resulting in a thirty-four-piece couture line titled Once Upon A Dream, which included exclusive rights to incorporate original Disney lyrics. From October through December 2017, Paolo Sebastian’s designs were showcased at the Art Gallery of South Australia.
The brand returned to Paris in July 2018 to present its Autumn/Winter 18/19 collection named The Nutcracker.
In 2020, Paolo Sebastian made its debut at the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival (VAMFF) with "The Passage of Spring" collection. The following year, it introduced its inaugural bespoke line at Melbourne Fashion Festival, drawing inspiration from Greek mythology and the figure of Persephone.
During its third collaboration with Melbourne Fashion Festival in 2022, Paolo Sebastian launched "The Wild Swans," a collection blending fairy tale motifs with themes of female empowerment.
Early in 2023 marked the label’s fifteenth anniversary, celebrated by releasing its first luxury footwear and scarf collections. The Italian-crafted shoe range comprises seven pieces centered on the ‘Swan Lake’ Ballet Pump design, accompanied by nine scarves named after signature couture collections such as Nightingale, Nutcracker, Persephone, East of the Sun and West of the Moon, and Wildflowers.
In July 2023, Paolo Sebastian made a post-pandemic return to Paris Couture Fashion Week with the presentation of its Luminary collection, reaffirming its presence on the international fashion stage.
Couture collections
Twice each year, Paolo Sebastian unveils new collections, frequently showcasing fabrics adorned with intricate hand embroidery and delicate beadwork. Every design is crafted by Vasileff, who draws inspiration from a unique concept for each collection, embodying the brand’s hallmark narrative approach to couture. The creative direction often takes cues from classic fables and fairy tale motifs.
Red carpet
Paolo Sebastian’s gowns have graced prestigious occasions such as the Academy Awards, Daytime Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, AACTA Awards, and TV Week Logie Awards. The label has also achieved global recognition at high-profile events including the Met Gala, Venice Film Festival, and Cannes Film Festival.
Notable clients
- Kim Kardashian
- Giuliana Rancic
- Kris Jenner
- Sonam Kapoor
- Corinne Foxx
- Megan Gale
- Delta Goodrem
- Jennifer Hawkins
- Gillian Anderson
- Carrie Bickmore
- Rachel Finch
- Dannii Minogue
- Ada Nicodemou
- Rebecca Judd
- Nadia Bartel
- Kerry Washington
- Julia Michaels
- Mary J. Blige
- Hailee Steinfeld
- Katy Perry
- Hilary Swank
In addition, Paolo Sebastian’s designs have been featured on well-known television series such as The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, and Home and Away.