Home is where the heart is for Adelaide fashion designer Paul Vasileff - even now that he's gone international.
The 26-year-old made history last year when he became the first South Australian to show a collection in Paris.
And on Wednesday night, he was honoured as Young Australian of the Year for 2017 in the Great Hall at Parliament House.
"It's a huge shock," he said accepting the award.
His creations, under the couture label Paolo Sebastian, have ruffled feathers across the globe but are all hand-made by 15 locally-employed staff.
They are sold in boutiques around the world, including New York, and are often featured on runways and worn by celebrities on red carpets at the Oscars.
The Kardashians, style guru Giuliana Rancic and host of 'The Project' Carrie Bickmore have been among his big-name clients.
Mr Vasileff founded the brand at the age of 17, six years after stitching his first dress with the help of his grandmother.
He graduated from Milan's prestigious Europea Istituto di Design and despite being told he could never achieve international success unless he left Australia has been working out of his hometown ever since.
"I've been lucky enough to be given the opportunity to live out my dream," he said.
"My hope for Australia is that our young people can have the same opportunity and our local businesses are supported and given the chance to grow.
"We all deserve the chance to dream - so dream big, Australia, because anything's possible."
The National Australia Day Council said the entrepreneur served as an inspiration to all young Australians chasing big dreams and was proof global success could be achieved from anywhere with the right attitude.
"His commitment to creating local jobs and keeping his business in Australia is to be admired as is his self-belief in pursuing his creativity and art as an entrepreneurial pathway."
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