ACF Member Designer Paul Vasileff named Young Australian of the Year 2017

The Asian Couture Federation (ACF) Member Designer,Paul Vasileff, was honoured to be named Young Australian of the Year 2017 at the National Announcement ceremony held at Parliament House in Canberra. Vasileff is the director and designer of South Australian couture house, Paolo Sebastian, which he founded in Adelaide in 2007, aged seventeen. "At just 26 years of age, Paul Vasileff has achieved extraordinary success as an international fashion designer. Passionate, determined and committed to running his business from his hometown of Adelaide, Paul’s achievements prove that anything is possible', spoke the committee of Australian of the Year Awards 2017. Vasileff achieved global recognition through his talent for designing exquisite Paolo Sebastian couture, his business acumen and by word-of-mouth of the many famous and glamorous fans of his ‘fairytale’ couture. These fans include, Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Coco Rocha, Sonam Kapoor and Australian television personalities Megan Gale, Delta Goodrem and Carrie Bickmore. Highlights of Vasileff’s career so far include participating in London Fashion Week 2010, Sydney’s 2012 Fashion Palette, closing the 2015 and 2016 Adelaide Fashion Festivals and showcasing in Paris 2016 during couture week. Paolo Sebastian was the first South Australian label to showcase in Paris and is now stocked in five boutiques worldwide, including locations in New York and Kuwait. "This is such an incredible honour. I am a strong believer in following your dreams and working hard and I feel so lucky to be where I am today. Just to be nominated for this award was a huge honour itself. It is amazing to feel so much support for not just myself, but also for us as a local business and a member of the arts community,"said Vasileff.

The ACF Member Designer Vasileff continues to be a huge advocate and supporter of the local South Australian fashion industry. He is largely self-taught but completed formal studies at the European Institute of Design in Milan in 2010 after winning the Landerer scholarship. Paolo Sebastian couture garments are still made in his South Australian atelier with a staff of fifteen. For several years Vasileff persevered against doubts that he could ever succeed unless he relocated his couture business overseas.