Designers glitter at Pasaraya show amid hardship<\/p>\n
By Agni Amorita<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): \"A crisis may have hit us but our appearance
\nmust remain stylish,\" fashion designer Ghea S Panggabean once
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Her statement was made the motto of The Look of Fashion 1999,
\nthe annual fashion show held in early December at Pasaraya
\nDepartment Store in Blok M, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Ghea, who, like other leading designers, kicked off her career
\nby running a counter at Pasaraya, was asked by her alma mater to
\nserve as a consultant to this year's event, which took place
\nbetween Dec. 2 and Dec. 8.<\/p>\n
Her fellow consultants were Biyan Wanaatmadja and Chossy Latu.<\/p>\n
\"With our new concept, i.e. a new look to welcome the new
\nmillennium, we would like to call on the community to do smart
\nshopping,\" said Ghea.<\/p>\n
\"This theme has been inspired by our gloomy economic
\nsituation, a situation prompting us to adopt a different approach
\nto dressing. We are thus now conditioned to opt for long-lasting
\nand classic fashions,\" she said.<\/p>\n
This new economy fashion concept is visible not only in Ghea's
\ncreations, but also Robby Tumewu's and Danny Dahlan's latest
\ndesigns.<\/p>\n
Another concept representing the viewpoint of a new world
\ncommunity characterized by multiculturalism and borderlessness is
\nfeatured in the latest collection of Ghea S. Panggabean and Susan
\nBudiharjo.<\/p>\n
Of some 40 trade marks of fashion products for ladies,
\ngentlemen, teenagers and children, two other prominent concepts
\nare the futuristic science-fiction style, as featured in the
\nworks of Sebastian Gunawan or Denny Wirawan, and the style
\nrelying on simplicity and femininity as manifested in the
\ncollection of the spiritual camp represented by Itang Yunasz,
\nDidi Budihardjo and Danarhadi.<\/p>\n
The Look of Fashion 1999 was a blend of the latest collections
\npredicted to be featured on the pret a porter stages in Paris,
\nLondon Fashion Week and the New York Pret as glimpsed by local
\ndesigners to welcome the new year.<\/p>\n
As such, the aspect of a high wearability rate became the main
\nrequirement. To this end, the designs were dominated by soft
\ncolors and minimalist patterns plus a little lengthening of hems
\nfrom midi to maxi.<\/p>\n
The fashion show was the 17th of its kind and held with some
\npomposity, including the \"import\" of famous Singapore's
\nchoreographer, Rizal Ahyar.<\/p>\n
\"This fashion show was intentionally made a little more warmly
\nfestive because we will soon be having our end-of-the-year
\nholidays, Xmas, New Year, Ramadhan, Idul Fitri and the Chinese
\nLunar New Year,\" said Usman Dja'far, president director of
\nALatief Corp., the owner of Pasaraya and Seibu chain stores.<\/p>\n
To welcoming this period of business harvest, the company has
\nintensified its promotions.<\/p>\n
\"Of course the ongoing crisis has brought about a decrease in
\nbuying. Someone who used to buy three items of clothing will now
\nbuy one piece. We have anticipated this trend by, for example,
\nintroducing a wider range of choices for prospective buyers,\"
\nUsman said.<\/p>\n
He noted that some malls, previously Pasaraya's competitors,
\nhad been burnt or were being avoided by shoppers as students'
\ndemonstrations, for example, caused traffic congestion on the way
\nto these places.<\/p>\n
\"That's why we are optimistic that our target of 40% of the
\nmarket during this business harvest period can be reached. Unless
\nwe reach this target, we will sustain big losses because of
\ninflation, which in 1998 has reached 70 percent. So, the target
\nof between 35 percent and 40 percent is actually a regression and
\nmeaningless.\"<\/p>\n
Last year the company, which belongs to former minister of
\nlabor Abdul Latief, expanded Pasaraya Manggarai branch from
\n18,000 square meters to 33,000 sq m and the turnover has now
\nrisen by 300 percent. And the expansion of the main Pasaraya
\nbuilding in Blok M, will commence in 1999.<\/p>\n
\"The first to be built will be the parking building because
\nmany visitors have complained about a lack of parking space in
\nPasaraya Blok M, particularly at weekends,\" said Dja'far.<\/p>\n
He will also set up 24 terrace cafes in the main Pasaraya yard
\nso that when the department store closes at 9 p.m. visitors who
\nwish to savor nocturnal air can do so and while away their time
\nat the cafes till midnight.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, we will also establish a high fashion counter on the
\nfirst floor of Pasaraya Blok M to introduce the collections of
\nnoted Indonesian designers\" Dja'far said,<\/p>\n
At present Pasaraya Blok M has some 200 fashion counters. \"Our
\ntarget is growth of 40 percent in 1999. This may not sound
\nrational considering our present economic condition. However, we
\nhave our own motivation, especially considering that the Jakarta
\ncommunity will still need all-new trends and fashions.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/designers-glitter-at-pasaraya-show-amid-hardship-1447893297",
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