Remembering Aurelio Costarella

Today, we received the unfortunate news that we must say goodbye to Aurelio Costarella.

A gifted designer, visionary artist, and committed activist, he was also a generous supporter of our mission and a friend to BIC. He will be missed.

Aurelio was born in Perth, Western Australia. Not only was he a world-renowned fashion designer, with his creations worn by A-list stars like Rihanna and Cate Blanchett, but he was also an advocate for mental health and a benzodiazepine harm survivor.

Aurelio used his platform to raise awareness about the dangers of benzodiazepines. In a 2019 interview with ABC News, he shared:

“I’ve been through periods where I’m not able to leave the house for weeks at a time. Because my central nervous system has been so compromised by the benzos, walking into a supermarket is akin to walking into a nightclub. It’s just so overwhelming.”

In a 2018 interview with PerthNow, he stated:

“I feel lucky to be alive, to be honest, and that’s why I’ve decided to share my experience. The suicidal thoughts I’ve had over the last year are worse than when I was going through my darkest days with depression and anxiety.”

Though Aurelio’s symptoms eventually improved, he tragically passed away this week from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare and fatal condition that leads to the progressive loss of brain function. We do not believe his death is in any way related to his benzodiazepine harm.

Tributes have poured in from celebrities around the world, remembering Aurelio for his creativity, his kindness, and the mark he left on the fashion industry.

Our thoughts are with his loved ones during this difficult time.

We are deeply grateful for Aurelio’s dedication, his impactful work, and his unwavering support. We will honor his memory, and he will be missed.