[The Jakarta Globe] The Jakarta Convention Center was a sea of color this weekend. More than 400 Indonesian fashion brands and 200 designers showcased their latest collections at the JCC during the first Indonesia Fashion Week. “This is spectacular,” said veteran fashion designer Ghea Sukarya Panggabean. “It feels as if I were actually in New York or Paris for a pret-a-porter event tonight. The booths are neatly arranged and the [fashion] shows are all exciting and well-managed.” Indonesia Fashion Week, which ran from Thursday to Sunday, is a trade event featuring ready-to-wear fashion, shoes and accessories by local designers and small-to-medium enterprises. The event went from idea to reality thanks to the collaboration between the Indonesia Fashion Designers Association (Appmi) and six government ministries. “This is a very important event, both for the fashion industry and the creative economy,” the coordinating minister for the economy, Hatta Rajasa, said in his opening speech at IFW on Thursday. “We fully support this program and the ambition to establish Indonesia as one of the premiere fashion destinations in the world.” The minister of trade, Gita Wirjawan, said he hoped the event would inspire more collaborations and open new markets for the country’s fashion designers. “IFW provides an opportunity for all stakeholders in the Indonesian fashion industry to meet and interact,” he said. “Hopefully, this opportunity will start new collaborations and open new distribution lines in Indonesia and abroad.” During IFW, the exhibition halls at the convention center were divided into seven zones: Muslim wear, ready-to-wear deluxe, wedding attire, ready-to-wear medium class, children’s wear, accessories and textiles. Most collections featured batik and tenun, or traditional handwoven textiles. Hue Biabi, a group of housewives and weavers from the village of Anin in East Nusa Tenggara, showcased a rich variety of scarves and shawls made of lotis, a traditional handwoven textile from their home province. Lotis is sought after for its intricate animal and floral motifs in vibrant colors. “We’re very excited,” said Kaci Taloen, a weaver from the Hue Biabi group. “This is the very first time we have visited Jakarta and our merchandise is selling well.” During the exhibition, the lotis scarves and shawls were sold for Rp 150,000 to Rp 1,500,000 ($17 to $165), depending on the size and intricacy of the design. A series of fashion shows also highlighted IFW 2012. On Thursday, Stella Rissa presented her latest fashion collection, titled Inner, for her luxurious pret-a-porter label, Stellarissa . “Outer beauty is merely a bonus,” the 25-year-old designer said. “A woman’s inner qualities, which include her personality, intelligence and knowledge, should shine through her physique and clothing.” Stella’s collection featured semi-transparent trousers made of silk organdy, which were paired with a long, wide-shouldered black jacket. “They make a woman look sexy, without being vulgar,” she said. Fashion designer Auguste Soesastro debuted his second line of ready-to-wear clothing, Kromo, on Thursday. Auguste presented daily office fashions and classic evening gowns in basic colors, and the collection retained the designer’s signature style of solid structure and quiet elegance. “My outfits are all modest and very practical,” the 29-year-old said. “They’re intended for modern Indonesian women who are always on the go.” Auguste’s sleek and quiet designs have attracted the attention of the creme-de-la-creme in New York since he launched his Kraton collection there in 2009. New York-based Indonesian designer Ardistia Dwiasri presented her spring and summer 2012 collection, Contour Fluidity, which was inspired by Italian architect and furniture designer Carlo Mollino. The collection boasts layered jackets, body-wrapping blouses, structured dresses and jumpsuits in creamy colors. “Indonesia has lots of resources,” Ardistia said. “Our fashion designers are very talented. I believe it’s time for us to go international. Through IFW, we can all collaborate and enter the global market.” Senior fashion designer Carmanita also presented her spring and summer 2012 collection, Cross Culture. The collection was the result of her collaboration with a group of Indian weavers and Japanese tie-dye artisans. “We have batik designs on saris and shibori [Japanese tie-dye textile] for this collection,” the 56-year-old designer said. “Fashion is limitless. By collaborating with artists from other countries and cultural backgrounds, we can enrich our fashion creations and present something new and exciting to the international market.” Today, Carmanita exports her fashion products to Japan, the United States and Europe, where they are sold at the luxury department store Harrods in London. Hong-Kong based Indonesian fashion designer Mardiana Ika presented her latest collection, Beauty and the Beast, during IFW 2012. The collection featured structured jackets, blouses and skirts made of leather and brocade in monochromatic hues of black and white. A tasteful interplay of piping, crochet and classic embroideries enhanced the collection. “Two thumbs-up for IFW,” Mardiana said. “It’s their first event. Yet, they’ve successfully engaged six government ministries, hundreds of fashion designers and small-to-medium enterprises at the event. It’s not an easy job at all.” On Saturday, Ghea Sukarya Panggabean presented her latest collection, Orientalism, which featured kebaya-inspired cocktail dresses enhanced with colorful Chinese embroidered birds, butterflies and dragons. “A lot of cultures influence Indonesian textiles and fashion designs,” Ghea said. “Indonesia is so rich and diverse. And I’m proud to be an Indonesian.” More information at: www.indonesiafashionweek.com
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