Designers tell men to let loose in fashion<\/p>\n
By Agni Amorita<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Wearing an Indiana Jones-type safari suit, model
\nGeorge Taka made his way down the catwalk with an unloaded
\nhunting gun. Behind him marched 23 fellow male models, clad in
\nsimilar outfits. The khakhi fabrics were matched with wild animal
\nprints, snake leather belts and Dr. Jones rounded hats. These
\nmasculine details were then combined with light embroidery, some
\nwere understated and just barely visible while others were
\neyecatching.<\/p>\n
The collections were part of the week-long Men's Fashion Show
\nwhich began earlier this week at the Sahid Jaya Hotel, Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"This is my latest collection for men, called Safari 2000,"
\nexplained fashion designer Ramli, who is dubbed the Indonesian
\ntsar of embroidery.<\/p>\n
Ramli believes that men's fashion plays a huge role in the
\ngarment business but that the development of it remains low
\nprofile because of a lack of enthusiasm from both players --
\nmanufacturers and consumers.<\/p>\n
"Men are very conservative," complained Ramli, "So there's
\nhardly any place for those who are fashion conscious."<\/p>\n
Ramli's counterpart, hairdresser-turned-businessman Hanky
\nTandayu, shares the same opinion. "It's our obligation to tell
\nmen there are places for them to look great and feel good about
\ntheir appearance," he said.<\/p>\n
They applauded a recent study which recommended that men show
\ntheir feelings freely, including crying and wearing brightly
\ncolored outfits.<\/p>\n
"There's nothing wrong with it, people won't think you are a
\nsissy," added Hanky emotionally. "I have just returned from
\nMilan, where men are wearing various warm colors like orange,
\ngreen, yellow and burgundy to follow the latest fashion trends as
\nthe enchanted summer calls," Hanky continued. He showed off his
\nnew Prada orange shoes that he claimed were normal footwear
\nthere. He said these days men in Milan were even having their
\neyebrows trimmed.<\/p>\n
This was the first time a men's fashion week was held in
\nJakarta. It was meant to celebrate the anniversary of Matra, the
\nmonthly men's magazine. But it seems that this reason was not
\nsufficient enough to attract people, so the event organizer,
\nRamli with his firm, PT Ram Sarwigo, added a search contest for
\nmale and female models, called Model Indonesia 2000. But interest
\nin the male event dipped even lower as ladies fashions took up
\nalmost half the show.<\/p>\n
"We have to face reality," said kebaya designer Vicky Sutono
\nwho showed his latest collection under label Vic & Van on the
\nsame catwalk.<\/p>\n
"Men's fashion is not so challenging, we only make those
\nclothes on special order," added Arifan Mas, Vicky's fellow
\ndesigner and partner in the label. For the occasion, Vic & Van
\nmade various spread-collar men's shirts for Rp 200,000. Other
\nlocal designers who took part in the event tried hard to be
\ninnovative by avoiding "safe" choices in their men's clothing.<\/p>\n
They were not offering button-down shirts. Instead they
\npreferred to look to nostalgia and combined traditional outfits
\nwith modern cutting, as shown in Carmanita's batik collections.<\/p>\n
Other influences come from Generation X, reflected in the
\ncollection of Richard's Costume Design that revitalized men's
\njackets with short and diagonal inverness capes. Overloaded
\nfashion details, such as the metallic zipper and large pockets,
\nwere everywhere. Dipa Sumawijaya even created a floral textured
\nshirt in the feminine colors of pink and purple.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/designers-tell-men-to-let-loose-in-fashion-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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