One of Indonesia’s leading fashion couturiers, Sebastian Gunawan, is one half of a duo; Gunawan designs all the clothes with his wife Cristina Panarese. Together, they manage four labels: Sebastian Gunawan Signature, SEBASTIANred, Votum and SEBASTIANsposa.

Gunawan has been making designs since the ’90s, making dresses ranging from bridalwear to ready-to-wear pieces. Gunawan and Panarese’s glamorous and feminine designs have been sought after through the years, their individual strengths complementing one another. The substantial success of the Gunawan brand and its ability to withstand numerous trends is a result of their flexibility in adapting to the times. Gunawan has used social media to reach clients whom he had never expected, such as customers from Panama or Kuwait.

Gunawan studied at the Susan Budihardjo School of Fashion in Jakarta, then moved to Los Angeles and Milan, Italy. He has been the designer for numerous glitterati among the Indonesian social elite.