SYDNEY-Adelaide couturier Paul Vasileff has been named 2017 Young Australian of the Year.
The award was presented by Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in the Great Hall at Parliament House, Canberra on Wednesday night, on the eve of Australia Day. Australia’s national day, Australia Day marks the anniversary of the Jan. 26, 1788 arrival of the British First Fleet at Port Jackson, New South Wales.
Vasileff is only the second Australian fashion/beauty industry identity to be recognized by the Australian of the Year Awards, which were founded in 1960 and honour achievement across four categories: Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year and Australia’s Local Hero.
The 26 year-old couturier, who designs under the brand name Paolo Sebastian, launched his label in 2007 while still in high school.
Vasileff today employs 15 people in his Adelaide salon, with fifty percent of his business now international, selling through six international boutiques and to private clients in the US, the Middle East and Asia.
Last July, Vasileff took his fall 2016 couture collection to Paris, to show privately during the fall 2016 couture season.
“It’s such an honour” said Vasileff of his award – out of a field of 31 Young Australian of
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