Overview

• Aurelio Costarella, renowned for his dramatic demi-couture designs, died at 60 following a brief battle with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
• The self-taught Perth designer gained international recognition, becoming the first Western Australian label to feature at New York Fashion Week in 2006.
• His designs were worn by global figures including Rihanna, Charlize Theron, Dita Von Teese, and Julia Gillard, cementing his reputation as a fashion visionary.
• Costarella was inducted into the Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame in 2016 and later shifted his focus to painting after closing his label in 2017.
• A passionate mental health advocate, he shared his struggles with depression and anxiety, serving as an ambassador for Lifeline WA and inspiring many through his openness.