Creativity and Diversity Featured at This Year's Jakarta Fashion Week
Jakarta. Jakarta Fashion Week 2018 opened in Senayan City shopping mall, South Jakarta, on Saturday (21/10).
"We're proud to say that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Jakarta Fashion Week in this beloved city of ours, Jakarta," Svida Alisjahbana, chairwoman of JFW, said in the opening ceremony of the event. "It's been a wonderful journey. And we're confident that greater things are to come, despite all the challenges and changes affecting the world."
This year's fashion event is themed "Bhinneka dan Berkarya" (Diversity and Creativity).
"The theme 'Diversity and Creativity' cannot be more relevant than now," Svida said. "No other industry encapsulates the importance of having diverse influence and cultural heritage, as well as many different points of view, than fashion. No other country is as diverse as ours. That is the essence of Indonesia."
During the opening ceremony, 11 designers, who were deemed to represent the spirit and vision of the fashion week, showcased their most iconic outfits that were presented in past JFW events. Some of those designers included Edward Hutabarat, Itang Yunasz, Obin, Sapto Djojokartiko, Sebastian Gunawan and Toton.
On the second day of the event, Sunday, JFW presented Pia Alisjahbana awards to important role models in Indonesia's fashion industry.
Pia Alisjahbana, co-founder of the publishing company Femina Group, is a pioneering figure in Indonesian fashion journalism.
The individual category of the award was given to senior fashion designer Biyan Wanaatmadja.
"I never thought that I'd win this award," Biyan said. "I just work and create and be grateful to be doing what I love best."
The collections of the designer's labels Biyan and Studio 133 are displayed at major department stores in Jakarta, as well as in premium outlets in Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, the United States, Italy and Bahrain.
"It takes a lot of effort to be internationally recognized," Svida Alisjahbana said. "And Biyan, with his hard work and perseverance, has achieved it. His achievement is very inspiring to us all."
The institutional category of the award was given to the curated department store, The Goods Dept.
The Goods Dept, which began at the Brightspot Market bazaar in 2007, now operates seven stores in Jakarta, one in Surabaya and an online store.
Eighty percent of the products featured in their stores are made by local designers.
"It's not easy to keep moving forward in this era of uncertainty," Anton Wirjono, co-founder of The Goods Dept, said. "But I try to abide by what Ibu Pia [Alisjahbana] had said to me before, to always listen to our customers, work hard and innovate."
On the second day of the fashion week, Luthfi Madjid, Sugeng Waskito and Yogiswari Prajanti collaborated and presented an interesting fashion show, themed "Origin Diversity."
All the collections in the show are based on the designers' own cultural backgrounds and immediate surroundings.
Luthfi's collection, themed 'Ode to the Earth,' is inspired by a view from the designer's bedroom window, which overlooks a mountainous area in Bandung, West Java.
"The organic shapes and hues have inspired me a lot in designing this collection," Luthfi said.
Luthfi's new collection features easy-to-wear pieces, made of chambray, cotton, denim and organza. With a relaxed fit, many of his items can be worn by either men or women.
In the fashion show, Sugeng Waskito presented an elegant women's evening wear collection, themed "Aksara" (Alphabet).
The collection of the Yogyakarta-based designer featured A-line long dresses made of batik that combine ancient the Javanese alphabet with traditional patterns.
Yogiswari presented an adorable women's ready-to-wear collection themed "Cerita Para Nyonyah" (Stories of the Madams) at the fashion show.
"Many of today's modern women are still very much rooted in their cultures," Yogiswari said. "In these modern days, they choose to remain Indonesian."
JFW 2018 will last until Friday.
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