Indonesia to host Asia fashion contest<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian fashion is at last targeting the
\ninternational market earnestly. In celebration of Indonesia's
\n50th independence anniversary, the Indonesian Fashion Designers'
\nAssociation (AAPMI) will hold its first Asia Fashion Design
\nCompetition from August 8 - 11.<\/p>\n
The competition, expected to involve designers from 11
\ncountries, including India, Vietnam, and Japan, is the most
\nambitious and far-reaching event the local fashion industry has
\nattempted. International or Asia-wide fashion design competitions
\nare usually held only in Japan, Singapore, or Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
"We don't want to just participate in other people's
\ncompetitions", said AAPMI director Poppy Dharsono, "We want to
\nestablish our own international stage".<\/p>\n
The competition, which will be held at the Sahid Jaya Hotel,
\nwill be judged by an international team of design experts,
\nincluding fashion editors Jenny Capitain from France's Vogue and
\nYumiko Hara from Japan's Mainichi Simbun.<\/p>\n
The first winner will receive US$15,000, while second and
\nthird winners will receive $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.<\/p>\n
Inspired by the perseverance of traditional handicrafts, AAPMI
\nhas declared The Beauty of Asia Heritage as its theme. All
\ndesigns must utilize local handicrafts and textile arts.<\/p>\n
Dharsono declares the promotion of local handicrafts a
\nnecessity, because "we have so many craftspeople, and we must
\nhelp them flourish".<\/p>\n
Showcasing handicrafts on an international stage will also add
\nto their prestige, she said. "AAPMI wants to transform
\nhandicrafts into a value-added product."<\/p>\n
Indonesia will present the works of four aspiring designers
\nwho will be selected from a nationwide competition, to be held on
\nJuly 14 at Jakarta's Grand Metro Equatorial Hotel.<\/p>\n
The competition is open to designers under 30 years old and
\nwho do not have their own label.<\/p>\n
Foreign entries are selected from the winner of similar
\nnational competitions.<\/p>\n
The Asia Fashion Design Competition 1995 also celebrates the
\nbirth of the Indonesian Design Center. Widagdo, a professor of
\nBandung's Institute of Technology explained that the center, the
\nfunction of which includes inventorying, promotion and
\nconsultation, is "still at the embryonal stage".<\/p>\n
Yet its arrival has been long awaited.<\/p>\n
"Even the Philippines had a national design center 20 years
\nago," Widagdo said. In Southeast Asia, only Brunei does not have
\na design center.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia has a lot of catching up to do," commented Sidik
\nPrawira, Director General of Small Businesses and Co-operatives
\nat the Department of Industry. Prawira adds that such an
\ninstitution will foster better design, and this will "improve the
\ntechnology of small businesses, and hence improve efficiency."
\n(Dini Djalal)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-to-host-asia-fashion-contest-1447893297",
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