Statements
Aurelio Costarella—Tribute
Brief ministerial statement
Ms Simone McGurk (Fremantle—Minister for Creative Industries) (9:02 am): I rise to speak to the house about the passing of Mr Aurelio Costarella on 19 April 2025 after a short battle with a rare brain condition—Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease. Aurelio Costarella was a Perth-born and Perth-based fashion designer. The son of Italian migrants, he began as a self-taught designer in the early 1980s and became Western Australia's most famous fashion icon and label. His garments were featured on runways and in retail outlets around the world, and he was the first Western Australian label to show at New York Fashion Week in 2006.
The Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip showcased a 30-year retrospective exhibition of his work in 2013, and he was inducted into the Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame in 2016. His garments are held in collections in museums, including in the Western Australian Museum, Sydney's Powerhouse Ultimo Museum and the National Gallery of Victoria. Given his national recognition and international market, it is significant that Mr Costarella chose to maintain his flagship store in Perth.
He spoke candidly about mental health to raise awareness regarding depression and anxiety. In 2017, Mr Costarella made the difficult decision to step away from the fashion world. He continued his passion for creativity through art and interior design, creating paintings and collages and turning these works into prints, textiles and wallpaper, and was the subject of the short film Becoming Aurelio, directed by Chantel Concei and produced by Kate Downie, which premiered as part of Perth's Revelation International Film Festival.
Mr Costarella was only 60 years of age when he passed away, but his impressive creative achievements and his compassion and support for others will remain as an enduring legacy. I am sure all members of the house will join me in extending our condolences to Mr Aurelio Costarella's family, as well as his many colleagues and friends.
Vale, Aurelio.
