COUTURíSSIMO announces Sebastian Gunawan to present during Paris' Haute Couture week at a specia

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11th MAY 2016 The Executive Board and Governors of the Asian Couture Federation are delighted to announce that member designer and Asian Couturier Extraordinaire, Sebastian Gunawan has been invited to present his Autumn / Winter 2016 Couture Collection and collaboration with COUTURíSSIMO on the 3rd July during Paris’ Haute Couture Week.

INVITATION TO PRESENT DURING PARIS’ HAUTE COUTURE WEEK

Renowned Indonesian Couturier and Asian Couture Federation member designer and Asian Couturier Extraordinaire, Sebastian Gunawan, will present at Paris’ Haute Couture Week on the 3rd July 2016. For over 140 years, Paris has been the spiritual and creative home of Haute Couture, with its biannual couture weeks the world-renowned platform for presenting the foremost couturiers. For over 20 years, Sebastian Gunawan has established his reputation as Indonesia’s leading couturier, one built on exceptional craftsmanship, attention to detail and creativity. In partnership with the Asian Couture Federation, and following the continued support and assistance of the French Embassy in Indonesia, Sebastian Gunawan will present his Autumn / Winter 2016 Couture Collection and special collaboration with COUTURíSSIMO to a key and influential audience in one of the most important couture markets in the world.

Commenting on this announcement, Dr. Frank Cintamani, Founding President of the Asian Couture Federation said, “The Asian Couture Federation, has since its inception been dedicated to promoting the very best couture designers in Asia to a world-wide audience. Sebastian Gunawan, has established himself as Indonesia’s foremost couturier, which was rightly recognised by his being inducted into the ACF as an ‘Asian Couturier Extraordinaire.’ I am delighted that having presented his work so extensively in Jakarta and across Asia, that he will be showcasing his exceptional talent with both his Couture collection and special collection for COUTURíSSIMO on the 3rd July in Paris, during Haute Couture Week.”

Presented to a specially invited audience of over 400 international key media, social media influencers, couture buyers, and fashion leaders, this will mark a milestone moment for Sebastian Gunawan, and Indonesian couture talent. Mr. Triawan Munaf, Head of the Creative Economy Agency, said, “Indonesia has a long and rich creative tradition. Its diverse cultural heritage is admired and respected the world over. It has also made significant contributions to the world of fashion and textiles, including its revered Batik work, as well as many talented designers and artisans.

One such designer, Sebastian Gunawan has established himself as a leading couturier both in Indonesia and internationally. I am delighted that with the support of the French Embassy in Indonesia, and the Asian Couture Federation, that his exceptional work will be presented to a wider audience in Paris, during Haute Couture Week.” Paris has long been the spiritual and cultural home of Couture. Presenting both his couture collection and collection for COUTURíSSIMO, Sebastian Gunawan’s work will be seen in a special runway show in Paris on the 3rd July. This could not have been achieved without the considerable support and guidance of the French Government, and especially the French Embassy, here in Jakarta.

Their support of the Asian Couture Federation and of Sebastian Gunawan in ensuring that his exceptional couture collections can be presented in Paris, during Haute Couture Week has been tremendous. In particular, Mr. Marc Piton, Conseiller de coopération et d'action culturelle who has been a long time partner of the Asian Couture and Mr. Stéphane Baumgarth, Premier Conseiller, both of the French Embassy. The Asian Couture Federation also expresses its sincere thanks to Ms. Corinne Breuze, Ambassador of France to Indonesia. Beyond presenting the most exceptional couture in Paris, today also marks an important moment in the nurturing of the relationship between France and Indonesia and indeed with the Asian Couture Federation.

SEBASTIAN GUNAWAN – AUTUMN / WINTER 2016 COUTURE COLLECTION Renowned for his couture work, Sebastian Gunawan will be presenting his Autumn / Winter 2016 Couture collection in Paris on the 3rd of July. Inspired by ‘Cloisonnism’ (a style of post-Impressionist painting with bold and flat forms separated by dark contours, the term was coined by critic Edouard Dujardin on the occasion of the Salon des Indépendants, in March 1888). The collection is finished in a combination of colours, with a distinctly feminine touch. Over 20 specially created couture pieces from Sebastian Gunawan’s atelier will grace the runway this July.

With the prominence of Paris as the heart of Haute Couture, the presence of Sebastian Gunawan stands as a key moment in Indonesian and Asian couture. His elegant work and refined sensibilities will be given the ultimate platform during the world renwoned Haute Couture Week in Paris.

Commenting on this, Mr. Sebastian Gunawan, said, “I am delighted to be presenting my Autumn / Winter 2016 Couture Collection in Paris this July. The Haute Couture Week has always been the pinnacle for any couture designer, and I am deeply honoured that I will be able to showcase my work and my collection in this city of couture.”

SEBASTIAN GUNAWAN – COUTURíSSIMO COLLECTION The Asian Couture Federation was established to nurture and promote the very best couture talent in Asia. As part of this mission, the Asian Couture Federation will be formally launching its latest initiative - COUTURíSSIMO on the 3rd July in Paris. This ground breaking on-line fashion portal, will provide consumers with access to affordable couture inspired pieces designed by leading couturiers. As part of the launch will be a special collection designed for COUTURíSSIMO by Sebastian Gunawan, which will be presented on the runway immediately following his Autumn / Winter 2016 Couture Collection.

This is the result of the formal signing ceremony marking the partnership, which took place last year on the 19th November at Ciputra Artpreneur. At that occasion, Sebastian Gunawan’s collaboration was marked in a special signing ceremony with Dr. Frank Cintamani, Founding President of the ACF and Ms. Emily Hwang, Vice President of the ACF, Mr. Sebastian Gunawan and Ms. Cristina Panarese.

Since then, Sebastian Gunawan has worked to create a unique collection, which will be presented in Paris immediately following his couture show. With a show comprising over 30 looks, guests will have the unique opportunity to see the vision, creativity and talent of this leading couturier translated into an accessible and affordable collection for COUTURíSSIMO. This is the creation of Sebastian Gunawan and Cristina Panarese. Fusing a variety of shapes, both feminine and masculine, it combines lace with both a playful romantic mood and a nod to the vintage, with an added element of the Oriental. The collection is filled with classic colours, such as black, white, grey, red, blue, pink and gold, and also a touch of couture with embroidery and appliqué.

Commenting on the launch of COUTURíSSIMO, and the collaboration with Sebastian Gunawan, Ms. Emily Hwang, Vice President of the Asian Couture Federation, said, “The Asian Couture Federation has always had a fundamental belief in the importance of supporting Asian couture talent. The launch of COUTURíSSIMO is a key step in enabling us to ensure that leading Asian Couturiers gain global exposure. We are delighted that Sebastian Gunawan is one of the first couturiers that we are collaborating with to create an affordable and accessible collection that is inspired by the world of couture.”

SEBASTIAN GUNAWAN Sebastian Gunawan is an Indonesian-born fashion designer. His passion for fashion started at the early age of 14 in the form of hand sketches and drawings. Sebastian then furthered his fashion interest through formal education in Susan Budiharjo Institute of Mode Jakarta Indonesia, The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Los Angeles, USA and Institute Artistico Dell Abbigliamento in Marangoni, Milan, Italy before returning home to embark on his professional fashion journey. Sebastian first entered Indonesia’s fashion industry in 1993 with his own fashion house. Within the next decade, he took the Indonesian fashion industry by storm, further introducing design labels such as the made-to-order "Sebastian Gunawan,” ready-to-wear “Sebastian Red,” second-line “VOTUM,” and bridal collection “Sebastian Sposa.” Sebastian’s creativity was recognized internationally when he received the First Award at the “International Apparel Federation World Young Designer Award 2004″ in Barcelona, Spain.

A year later he was invited to show his collection at “Moda in 3D” in Rome. He was named the top fashion designer in Indonesia by the Jakarta Post, as well as receiving several awards including “Best Designer Award” by Indonesian Tatler, 2005, “International Apparel Federation World Young Designer Award,” Barcelona, Spain 2004, “Favorite Designer Award” by Dewi Magazine, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004.

For more information, please visit: www.sebastiangunawan.com www.facebook.com/sebastiangunawanofficial www.instagram.com/sebastianprgirl

THE ASIAN COUTURE FEDERATION (ACF) Inaugurated in 2013, the Asian Couture Federation (ACF) was set up to inspire, support, and promote the highest levels of Asia-based fashion design artistry to the Asian and global markets. The ACF aims to proactively assist with the development of a more attractive landscape for such talented Asian designers to remain in Asia and have their businesses headquartered in Asia for the global market. The ACF seeks to support such talent and promote the creativity of its best local designers, to both Asian and worldwide audiences.

For more information, please visit: www.asiancouturefederation.com www.facebook.com/asiancouturefederation www.instagram.com/asiancouturefederation www.twitter.com/asiancouturefed www.youtube.com/user/asiancouturefed

COUTURíSSIMO Built upon a desire to build a bridge between couture and consumer, COUTURíSSIMO is a ground breaking on line platform that will extend the reach of best-in-class designers and create access to their designs on a grand scale. Backed by the Asian Couture Federation, COUTURíSSIMO has a brand concept of being a multi-designer label that focuses on collaborations with established couture designers from across the world to create accessibly priced high quality couture inspired collections. In the spirit of ‘see now – buy now’, the collection will be available for order and purchase immediately following the show on the 3rd July at www.couturissimo.com.

For more information, please visit: www.couturissimo.com www.facebook.com/couturissimo www.instagram.com/couturissimo www.twitter.com/couturissimo

MEDIA ENQUIRIES For more information or any media enquiries, please contact the following: Livia Setyabrata Account Executive Inke Maris & Associates T: 021-8281250, F: 021-8351369 e-mail: livia.setyabrata@inkemaris.com