Becoming the first South Australian to showcase a collection at Paris Fashion Week last year, Paul made history again this January as the first designer to be named Young Australian of the Year in the award’s 38-year-history.
The 26-year-old behind international label Paolo Sebastian was recognised for his commitment to growing a local business.
“It’s still very surreal but it’s a great honour and I’m very humbled by it,” Paul says.
Based in his hometown of Adelaide, Paul designs every Paolo Sebastian piece, and each and every intricate detail of the whimsical couture gowns is handcrafted by his staff in the label’s local atelier.
Each Paolo Sebastian collection is a magical experience and aims to narrate a story through romantic designs and the application of diverse fabrics and techniques.
“My whole life I’ve been very much inspired by fairytales and for me the whole point of fashion is to tell a story and transport the client,” Paul says.
The talented designer discovered his flair for fashion at a young age, learning to sew from his nonna Domenica as a child.
“I’m very lucky in that my nonna taught me a lot,” he says.
“She sees sewing as an art form and she definitely instilled in me the mentality of taking pride in your work, whether it be sewing or whatever you’re doing.”
Paul’s passion for design continued to flourish, and at the age of 16, he launched his label into the spotlight with the first Paolo Sebastian collection.
“Starting out I knew very little about this industry; I just loved the work and was very passionate about the actual product and making these garments,” he recalls.
As Paolo Sebastian began turning heads and Paul developed as both a designer and businessman, the opportunity of a lifetime arose.
In 2010, the young talent won a scholarship to Milan’s prestigious Istituto Europeo di Design, organised by the Italian Consulate.
During his year abroad, Paul was mentored by industry greats such as the pattern-maker for Dolce and Gabbana and the illustrator for Gucci, while one of his designs was featured at London Fashion Week.
“I had never been overseas before and I spoke very little Italian, so it was a real culture shock and I had to grow up very quickly, but it was a great experience at the same time,” he explains.
“There were all of these incredible people that I was able to learn from and I think that definitely helped me to find my direction and harness my creativity.”
After a year in Milan, Paul had perfected his Italian and honed his expertise in design.
Despite receiving interview offers from various European fashion houses upon his graduation, Paul had his mind set on one thing: heading home.
Missing the lifelong support of his friends and family, and having been raised on a mentality of supporting and buying local, Paul knew that returning to Adelaide to build his business was the right choice.
“It’s sad that here in Australia we lose so much of our talent and resources to overseas, so I really made it my mission to try and do my best and see how far it could take me,” he says.
“Deep down I always wanted Paolo Sebastian to be an international brand and I thought ‘why does it matter where you are in the world?’”
Paul’s decision evidently paid off.
His label has become one of Australia’s leading couture houses, and his designs have been worn by the likes of Megan Gale, Delta Goodrem and Kim Kardashian.
A Paolo Sebastian number or two has even been flaunted on the red carpet at major international events, from the Academy Awards to the Grammys.
As he continues to take the global fashion scene by storm, Paul is hoping to use his new title as Young Australian of the Year to inspire today’s youth to pursue their passion, no matter what that is, and to promote local industries.
“The young people are the future and it’s the decisions that they make that will shape this country in the long run,” he says.
“If I can help be a part of that, that’s a huge honour.”
