Sebastian Gunawan is currently one of Indonesia’s biggest fashion houses for couture, bridal, ready-to-wear evening gowns. He has been running his own fashion label in Jakarta since 1993. Indonesian and well known for his glamorous, feminine dresses, Sebastian works alongside his wife and creative partner Cristina Panarese whom he met during their Fashion Design studies at Istituto Marangoni in Milano. He discovered his passion for fashion illustration as a child, credited to his mother's natural flair. His designs are committed to inspiring women, which is clearly conveyed in his internationally varied, yet distinctly western creations enriched with embroidery, Swarovski crystals, and sequins sewn according to the distinguishing techniques of haute couture. Sebastian’s sketching hobby led him to attending a design course in Jakarta in 1985. He then honed his skills in Los Angeles. The glamorous air of Hollywood seems to be a starting point for his design inspirations, something that was later honed at Milan's famed Istituto Morangoni. He made his debut on the catwalk in 1995 with ‘A Life Portrait:’ this collection kicked off his career as a “dramatic evening and ball gown” designer. In 2004 he represented Indonesia at the IAF in Barcelona and received the IAF Young designer’s award for his “I Miss Bali” collection. A year later he was invited to show his capsule at “Moda in 3D” in Rome. He entered the Muslim fashion world by participating, for three consecutive years from 2006 to 2008, in the Islamic Fashion Festival in Kuala Lumpur. He also won “The Islamic Fashion Festival Appreciation Award” in 2008. He is now a member of the Indonesian Fashion Designers Association and Asian Couture Federation.