Gustavo Apiti Couture: A Decade of Bespoke Tailoring in Bellevue

Bellevue Chamber Staff  |  May 13, 2026

Bellevue is home to a couture fashion house with regional Emmy recognition, a client list that includes Macklemore, Russell Wilson, and former Governor Jay Inslee, and an upcoming runway show that marks ten years of work in the city: Gustavo Apiti Couture, who builds bespoke suits for men and women, couture bridal gowns, made-to-measure tailoring, and structural alterations from a single studio.

Designer Gustavo Apiti grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he discovered fashion as a child. He sharpened the craft at Luly Yang Couture and Nordstrom's flagship store before launching his own house, since earning a regional Emmy, a 2020 Best African Male Fashion Designer award from the African Achievement Awards, and a finalist spot on Netflix's Project Runway ... all while the studio's everyday roster of clients has grown to include local executives, athletes, and brides building their day around a single garment.

A studio that builds, not just fits

Gustavo's work breaks into three lanes: Bespoke suiting in bold colorways such as deep plum purple and bright turquoise; alterations that rework a garment's underlying structure rather than just hem and take in; and bridal couture engineered from the body out. The team frames its philosophy plainly:

"No two garments leave the studio the same, even if they begin from the same design." — The Gustavo Apiti Couture Team

Joining the Bellevue Chamber

Gustavo joined the Bellevue Chamber, in his words, to, "connect with like-minded business leaders who value excellence, innovation, and community impact." That community shows up in the work itself, where members and neighbors regularly become clients, and where a fitting can run as long as the conversation that surrounds it.

Ten years on the runway

This spring the studio celebrates a decade in Bellevue with L'Âme du Luxe en Couture, a June 13 runway show that pairs French couture techniques with Congolese-inspired artistry. The collection brings together finishings, fabrics, and silhouettes built over years of one-on-one client work, gathered in one room for one night. We hope you can join us!