Jeffrey Sebelia
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Sebelia is an American
fashion designer and founder of the clothing label Cosa Nostra, which he headed from a loft on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles
. He is best known as the winner of the third season
of American reality show Project Runway
.
. They had a minor radio hit with the song "402," but they disbanded. Lifter's song "Swing" was featured in Jeffrey's runway show at Olympus Fashion Week.
After a successful drug rehabilitation at the age of 31, Sebelia enrolled in sewing classes at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College
. It was there that he immediately fell in love with design, and shortly after he started the clothing line Cosa Nostra. Among his celebrity clients are Dave Navarro
, Gwen Stefani
, Jennifer Lopez
, Red Hot Chili Peppers
, Marilyn Manson, Elton John, Madonna, and Tommy Lee
. The Cosa Nostra label is available in about twenty stores worldwide.
In the spring of 2006, Sebelia auditioned for the Bravo series Project Runway after seeing the success his friend, former contestant Santino Rice
, had enjoyed. Jeffrey was selected to compete, was one of the final four contestants to display their collections at Fashion Week, and was chosen the winner. He had been portrayed as the third season's "villain," notorious for his explicit language and making fellow contestant Angela Keslar's mother cry, but fellow contestants like Alison Kelly have disputed this, saying he was far nicer than the program's editing indicated. Also, in an interview, Angela Keslar acknowledged that Sebelia apologized to her for various incidents between the two, but the apologies were never aired.
Just two days before the runway show, Sebelia was investigated for charges brought against him by fellow contestant Laura Bennett
. After seeing the amount of work completed, she brought her concerns about his having outside help to the show's designers' assistant, Tim Gunn
. Jeffrey was cleared of any wrongdoing, and Gunn stated he "completely believed that Jeffrey sewed the garments himself." However, because he had exceeded the $8,000 budget, he was forced to eliminate 12 platinum blonde wigs he had intended for his models to wear. Because the receipt for the allowable pleating done on a pair of leather shorts couldn't be found, Jeffrey replaced them with a pair of leather pants he had made as an extra option.
As one of the final four contestants, Sebelia presented a full collection at Olympus Fashion Week. Filled with bright colors, flowing dresses, and smart separates, his collection was strikingly different from the trademark grunge
, punk
, and rock 'n' roll-style outfits he had created throughout the season. His winnings include $100,000 to develop his own clothing line, a 2007 Saturn Sky Roadster, a year's representation by Designer's Management Agency, and a 15-page spread - featuring Marilinda Rivera, the model with whom he was paired during most of the Project Runway challenges - in ELLE
magazine.
Jeffrey Sebelia appeared on the November 2009 issue of Cliché Magazine
as one of the most prominent designers of his generation. The feature included an interview by editor in chief Jeremy Fall
as well as exclusive photography by Dirk Mai
. The content was featured on Cliché Magazine
's official blog Hello Kitsch.
and marijuana. By the time he was 16, he was a heroin addict living in a friend's garage. The following 15 years were filled with numerous, yet failed, attempts to get sober at a number of West Coast drug treatment centers. He has never been far from the spotlight and has been friends with Dave Navarro
since they were teens. Chester Bennington
of Linkin Park
, who is also an avid client, loves the Cosa Nostra line and has known Sebelia for years.
Before the show, Sebelia had lived with his girlfriend and their young son, Harrison. However, after completing Project Runway
Sebelia separated from his girlfriend. It was Harrison, Sebelia's son, that inspired his trademark neck tattoo which took more than eight hours to complete. The tattoo reads "Harrison Detroit l’amore della mia vita." It is his son's name, along with the phrase "is the love of my life," in Italian.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fashion designer and founder of the clothing label Cosa Nostra, which he headed from a loft on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. He is best known as the winner of the third season
Project Runway (season 3)
Project Runway Season 3 was the third season of Project Runway, Bravo's successful reality competition for fashion designers. The third season of the show, with Heidi Klum returning as the host and Tim Gunn as the designers' guide, began airing on July 12, 2006...
of American reality show Project Runway
Project Runway
Project Runway is an American reality television series on Lifetime Television, previously on the Bravo network, which focuses on fashion design and is hosted by model Heidi Klum. The contestants compete with each other to create the best clothes and are restricted in time, materials and theme...
.
Career
In the early 1990s, along with Mike Coulter, John Rozas and Antonia Scarpa, Sebelia was a member of the band Lifter, which was signed by Interscope RecordsInterscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
. They had a minor radio hit with the song "402," but they disbanded. Lifter's song "Swing" was featured in Jeffrey's runway show at Olympus Fashion Week.
After a successful drug rehabilitation at the age of 31, Sebelia enrolled in sewing classes at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College is a public community college in Los Angeles, California. It offers academic courses towards 4-year colleges and numerous vocational training programs including associate degree and certificate programs in Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, Culinary Arts,...
. It was there that he immediately fell in love with design, and shortly after he started the clothing line Cosa Nostra. Among his celebrity clients are Dave Navarro
Dave Navarro
David Michael "Dave" Navarro is an American guitarist who plays in the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction and cover band Camp Freddy. He has also played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Panic Channel, and many others.- Early life :...
, Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
, Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
, Marilyn Manson, Elton John, Madonna, and Tommy Lee
Tommy Lee
Thomas Lee Bass , best known as Tommy Lee, is an American musician and founding member of glam metal band Mötley Crüe. As well as being the band's long-term drummer, Lee founded rap-metal band Methods of Mayhem, and has pursued solo musical projects...
. The Cosa Nostra label is available in about twenty stores worldwide.
In the spring of 2006, Sebelia auditioned for the Bravo series Project Runway after seeing the success his friend, former contestant Santino Rice
Santino Rice
Santino Quinto Rice is an American fashion designer and television personality. He is best known for his appearances on the reality television programs Project Runway, RuPaul's Drag Race, and On the Road with Austin and Santino.-Early life:Rice was born and raised in St. Charles, Missouri...
, had enjoyed. Jeffrey was selected to compete, was one of the final four contestants to display their collections at Fashion Week, and was chosen the winner. He had been portrayed as the third season's "villain," notorious for his explicit language and making fellow contestant Angela Keslar's mother cry, but fellow contestants like Alison Kelly have disputed this, saying he was far nicer than the program's editing indicated. Also, in an interview, Angela Keslar acknowledged that Sebelia apologized to her for various incidents between the two, but the apologies were never aired.
Just two days before the runway show, Sebelia was investigated for charges brought against him by fellow contestant Laura Bennett
Laura Bennett
Laura Eugenia Bennett is an American architect and fashion designer and one of the four finalists on Bravo's July 2006's Project Runway .-Biography:...
. After seeing the amount of work completed, she brought her concerns about his having outside help to the show's designers' assistant, Tim Gunn
Tim Gunn
Timothy M. "Tim" Gunn is an American fashion consultant and television personality. He was on the faculty of Parsons The New School for Design from 1982 to 2007 and was chair of fashion design at the school from August 2000 to March 2007, after which he joined Liz Claiborne as its chief creative...
. Jeffrey was cleared of any wrongdoing, and Gunn stated he "completely believed that Jeffrey sewed the garments himself." However, because he had exceeded the $8,000 budget, he was forced to eliminate 12 platinum blonde wigs he had intended for his models to wear. Because the receipt for the allowable pleating done on a pair of leather shorts couldn't be found, Jeffrey replaced them with a pair of leather pants he had made as an extra option.
As one of the final four contestants, Sebelia presented a full collection at Olympus Fashion Week. Filled with bright colors, flowing dresses, and smart separates, his collection was strikingly different from the trademark grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
, punk
Punk fashion
Punk fashion is the clothing, hairstyles, cosmetics, jewelry, and body modifications of the punk subculture. Punk fashion varies widely, ranging from Vivienne Westwood designs to styles modeled on bands like The Exploited. The distinct social dress of other subcultures and art movements, including...
, and rock 'n' roll-style outfits he had created throughout the season. His winnings include $100,000 to develop his own clothing line, a 2007 Saturn Sky Roadster, a year's representation by Designer's Management Agency, and a 15-page spread - featuring Marilinda Rivera, the model with whom he was paired during most of the Project Runway challenges - in ELLE
Elle
Elle may refer to:*Elle, Central African Republic*Elle , a fashion publication*Ellé, a river in France*Elle , a female given name*Elle , a Sri Lankan game similar to baseball*Ælle of Sussex, a Saxon king...
magazine.
Jeffrey Sebelia appeared on the November 2009 issue of Cliché Magazine
Cliché Magazine
Cliché Magazine is a digital magazine, based in Los Angeles, that covers such topics as fashion, music, culture, and entertainment. The publication is released monthly, in virtual formats only.-Basic information:...
as one of the most prominent designers of his generation. The feature included an interview by editor in chief Jeremy Fall
Jeremy Fall
Jeremy Fall is the founder and editor in chief of Cliché Magazine.Deemed by Lucas Logan of Stylish Kids in Riot to be "The King of Digital Media", he is working on...
as well as exclusive photography by Dirk Mai
Dirk Mai
Dirk Mai is an American photographer, currently working for Cliché Magazine.From May 3-August 31, 2008, photographs of Mai were on display in The Andy Warhol Museum...
. The content was featured on Cliché Magazine
Cliché Magazine
Cliché Magazine is a digital magazine, based in Los Angeles, that covers such topics as fashion, music, culture, and entertainment. The publication is released monthly, in virtual formats only.-Basic information:...
's official blog Hello Kitsch.
In August of 2009, Fancast reported that Sebelia is starting work on a new line, eponymously named Jeffrey Sebelia.
Personal life
Sebelia shared a violent relationship with his father, who divorced his mother when Jeffrey was 8. Later, Jeffrey, who felt responsible for the divorce, began experimenting with cocaineCocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
and marijuana. By the time he was 16, he was a heroin addict living in a friend's garage. The following 15 years were filled with numerous, yet failed, attempts to get sober at a number of West Coast drug treatment centers. He has never been far from the spotlight and has been friends with Dave Navarro
Dave Navarro
David Michael "Dave" Navarro is an American guitarist who plays in the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction and cover band Camp Freddy. He has also played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Panic Channel, and many others.- Early life :...
since they were teens. Chester Bennington
Chester Bennington
Chester Charles Bennington is an American musician, singer-songwriter and actor. He is best known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Linkin Park....
of Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
, who is also an avid client, loves the Cosa Nostra line and has known Sebelia for years.
Before the show, Sebelia had lived with his girlfriend and their young son, Harrison. However, after completing Project Runway
Project Runway
Project Runway is an American reality television series on Lifetime Television, previously on the Bravo network, which focuses on fashion design and is hosted by model Heidi Klum. The contestants compete with each other to create the best clothes and are restricted in time, materials and theme...
Sebelia separated from his girlfriend. It was Harrison, Sebelia's son, that inspired his trademark neck tattoo which took more than eight hours to complete. The tattoo reads "Harrison Detroit l’amore della mia vita." It is his son's name, along with the phrase "is the love of my life," in Italian.
External links
- New York Magazine interview with Sebelia on life after Project Runway
- Cliché Magazine interview with Sebelia on Hello Kitsch
- Sebelia on the cover of Cliché Magazine's November 2009 issue
- Fancast interview with Sebelia on life after Project Runway, his current projects, and the Project Runway All-Star Challenge