Yousef Akbar breaks the mould and finds his feet in the fashion world

HOW Yousef Akbar broke away from his traditional family mould and forged his own path — and he’s already making a big impression.

Young emerging fashion designer Yousef Akbar pictured at his studio at home in West Pymble. Picture: Supplied.

YOUSEF Akbar’s childhood in a very traditional Saudi family didn’t exactly herald the man he would become.

“Things such as art and sports were not taken very seriously,” he recalls. So at 17 the dutiful son moved to Australia to study a degree in logistics. “After I graduated and made my parents happy and proud, I decided I owed it to myself to study something I really loved doing,” says Yousef, who enrolled in fashion college.

“From day one it was like magic — I was hooked! And from there on everything fell into place, and I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. Fate!”

Kelly Osbourne has already worn Yousef Akbar’s designs. Picture: Supplied

Fate, and a fair measure of talent. Although he only graduated at the end of last year, Yousef has already made a name for himself by winning a string of industry awards, having his first collection debut at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and dressing the likes of Kimbra, Kelly Osbourne and Jessica Mauboy.

“For as long as I could remember I was interested in art — I just remember wanting to draw everything,” says CommBank’s Australian of the Day.

“And I always loved clothes, dressing differently to others and it really frustrated me how I could never find what I wanted to wear in shops.”

Despite his abiding interests in couture, Sydney-based Yousef “never really thought that fashion design was a job that anyone can do. I never knew such thing existed!”

Now that he’s found his calling, he has no plans on giving it up for, say, a career in logistics. “I believe my career is just starting,” says Yousef.

“Thankfully, I am happy and content with the way I am starting off and I believe my big break is yet to come.”

When it does, he doesn’t intend on wasting it. “I plan on growing my brand,” says Yousef, 30. “My larger dreams would be creating a global brand that supports underprivileged local communities. I aspire to create a brand that makes a difference.”

CommBank has partnered with News Corp Australia to champion the Australian of the Day initiative which celebrates people in our neighbourhoods and communities who really make a difference to how we live and who we are. You can read all their stories at australianoftheday.com.au, where you can also nominate someone you know.