Friday, October 13, 2006

Sebastian Gunawan on Professionalism

For Sebastian Gunawan, potential alone is not enough to make one an achiever. Professionalism is one of the prerequisites in running a fashion business.

No sooner had he entered the fashion world in 1993 when Sebastian Gunawan captured public attention. His reputation as a fashion designer has become solid thanks to his great potential and high sense of professionalism. No wonder that in just 13 years, he has joined the ranks of top Indonesian designers. In addition, he has always taken part in international fashion events. He has won, among other honors, a citation from IAF Young World Designer Award XX in Barcelona, Spain.

""In developing our potential, the first thing to do is to really know what to do and whither to move! Never pretend that you know something inside-out and never allow yourself to know only half of something because if this is the case, then you will only end up confused. So, always do something seriously, wholeheartedly and conceptually,"" said Sebastian, who was born in Jakarta on July 2, 1967.

To have the courage to try something new, he said, is only one of his keys to success. ""Trying to do something you know allows you to learn and obtain experience. Then we will also learn about the meaning of a process and it is this process that gives us the courage to develop and find out what we want to realize,"" said Sebastian, who is affectionately called Seba.

To ensure that his designs vary, Seba never hesitates to introduce change. Change, he noted, lends dynamism to a designer's work so it will not become stale.

""As a designer, we must consciously introduce changes without, of course, removing our own traits. If you repeatedly offer the same type of design, people will eventually get bored. That's why we must have a really good understanding of what the public needs so that our designs can offer something new that the public can accept,"" he said.

As a fashion designer, Seba is highly consistent in running his own business and in organizing his annual fashion show. No wonder he has developed five fashion lines: Sebastian Gunawan (first line), Sebastian Red Label (second label), Votum by Sebastian & Christina, Sebastian Sposa (collection of wedding gowns) and Bubble Girls (children's wear). Many people must be curious about how he has developed his fashion business.

These five labels, each with their own team of designers, shows a stable sales volume, according to Sebastian, who was chosen to take care of the attire of Miss ASEAN 2005.

Despite his great potential, solid business and great popularity as a fashion designer, Sebastian illustrates his strong dedication to the fashion industry by participating in international fashion events. In the 2004 International Apparel Federation (IAF) event held in Barcelona, Spain, he, after being asked by the Indonesian Textile Association (API) to represent Indonesia in this event, was presented the IAF Young Designer's Award 2004.

Conforming to the theme of ""Global Travel Fashion"" chosen by the organizing committee, he entered his design under the theme of ""I Miss Bali"". His design comprised a dynamic and elegant combination of sheer top and trousers, plus long jacket with an attractive pattern.

His success in IAF 2004 prompted him to present his work in the 21st IAF Convention held in Cancun, Mexico. Through this event he benefited being promoted through the website of IAF. This achievement was a great source of pride for both Sebastian and the Indonesian people.

Sebastian has high hopes for the development of the fashion world at home.

He said Indonesia's fashion industry is excellent and promising, citing the emergence of many new talented designers and the opening of local and foreign fashion schools.

""Unfortunately, within the fashion industry there are many segments that are yet to establish good cooperation, for example between designers and textile producers. If the segments in Indonesia's fashion industry cooperate properly, Indonesia's fashion industry will develop better,"" he said.

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