Indonesia Getting Ready For The Largest Fashion Week

Indonesian fashion’s old and new guards

The line-up of designers displaying their spring-summer 2016 collections at JFW fashion tent is a colorful blend of established names and emerging talent.

Didi Budiardjo, who earlier this year celebrated his 25 years in fashion with an acclaimed exhibition, will host a solo show next Wednesday evening. On the same night, couturier Sapto Djojokartiko will show display a collection from his new ready-to-wear label Todjo.

Meanwhile, shows by celebrated but relatively new designers are distributed evenly throughout the week. This weekend, for instance, fashion goers will witness shows by the likes of Tex Saverio, who’s dressed Hollywood starlets such as Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lawrence.

Other designers displaying their collections at JFW include Toton and the label Major Minor, who have collaborated with with contemporary artists like Eko Nugroho for their upcoming collections.

Dewi Fashion Knights will become a fitting finale for this year’s JFW when it showcases five leading Indonesian designers Peggy Hartanto, Felicia Budi of fbudi, Lulu Lutfi Labibi, Rinaldy Yunardi and Haryono Setiadi, on Friday night.

Introduction of new talents

In keeping up with JFW’s mission to propel young talent into the limelight, fashion and lifestyle magazine CLEO will host its annual award show on Wednesday night.

At the award show, seven up-and-coming fashion labels including Aesthetic Pleasure, B.Y.O. and Paulina Katarina, have been selected as the finalists to compete for the “Most Innovative Local Brand” and the “Most Promising Accessories Brand” awards.

Muslim wear redefined

Indonesia has long being perceived as the world capital for Muslim wear, so it is no wonder that JFW has also tapped into this market of “modest wear” — a relatively new term intended to cast a wider net of customers.

Highlights include Dian Pelangi, the poster girl of Indonesia “hijabers,” who was recently inducted into the list of 500 most influential people in the global fashion industry by the popular website Business of Fashion. She will hold two shows on Sunday and Monday.

Sustainable and ethical fashion

Lucy Siegle, a British writer with expertise on sustainable and ethical fashion, will speak at a talk show about the topics organized by the British Council on Monday. The documentary she co-produced with Livia Firth, “The True Cost” — which reveals the dark side of fast fashion companies — will be screened the following day.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry will also hold another talk show “Beginning Ethical Fashion” on Monday,where discussions will include whether ethical conditions for workers in the fashion industry are adhered to.

It will be followed by a fashion show featuring Merdi Sihombing, who uses traditional woven textiles to support Indonesian workmanship, as well as Friederich Herman, who is committed to providing a safe and comfortable work atmosphere for his employees.

Cultural exchanges

JFW also collaborates with a number of Asian cultural organizations to bring international designers to Jakarta. The Japan Fashion Week Organization has invited designer Suzuki Takayuki, who will display his innovative collection with local Indonesian brand Bateeq on Sunday.

Meanwhile on Friday, the Korean Cultural Center will present a show featuring Indonesian designer Patrick Owen, who just recently display his spring collection at Seoul Fashion Week with his Korean counterpart Sujinn Kim of the label Soulpot Studio.