Designer Edo celebrates traditional design<\/p>\n
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Edward \"Edo\" Hutabarat is angry. He believes there are not enough
\npeople in this country supporting what he has been doing all
\nthese years -- promoting Indonesian culture through fashion and
\nin the process, instilling the spirit of integration.<\/p>\n
\"Our national costume is the lifeblood that unifies this
\nnation,\" Edo asserted during the Fifth National Congress on
\nCulture held recently in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra.<\/p>\n
When he meets with artisans from different cultures, Edo often
\nfinds himself immersed in discussion of various topics of art and
\nbeauty, so that potentially divisive matters of race and creed do
\nnot find a place.<\/p>\n
\"Fashion is not only about walking prettily on the catwalk.
\nThe beauty of it is that it's backed by a populistic economy,\"
\nEdo said, illustrating that a single piece of clothing needs the
\nexpert touch of dozens of artists.<\/p>\n
\"A fashion show can feed so many people, those who weave the
\ncloth, who put in the silver and gold weavings, those who carve
\nthe silver necklace and bracelets, who do the hair, the makeup.\"<\/p>\n
In the fashion show he organized on the night of the opening
\nof the National Congress on Culture in Bukittinggi, 20 of Edo's
\nmodels showed the audience exactly what he meant.<\/p>\n
Recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of different
\ntraditional cloths and costumes, Edo takes the best of every
\nculture and merges the elements into a beautiful and unique line
\nof clothing fit for the catwalks of Milan and Paris.<\/p>\n
Putting traditional motifs in modern settings, Edo
\nsuccessfully transported West Sumatran weaving traditions and
\nlace, South Sulawesi traditional blouse baju bodo and Yogyakartan
\nsilver to cater to modern tastes.<\/p>\n
For accessories, there was a masterpiece of a fan bringing
\ntogether the talents of many; made from East Nusa Tenggara
\nsandalwood, the body of the fan was painted by expert painters
\nfrom Kamasan, Bali, laced with silver from the silversmiths of
\nKotagede, Yogyakarta, and used a motif inspired by that found on
\nthe traditional doors of Bali's Singaraja kingdom.<\/p>\n
\"How can I present the best with only cassava, if that's all I
\nhave,\" Edo explained as his defining motto.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/designer-edo-celebrates-traditional-design-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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