Sarongs, white brocade combined in distinctive collection<\/p>\n
By Stevie Emilia<\/p>\n
ULUWATU, Bali (JP): Wearing sarongs with Indonesian
\ntraditional kebaya-inspired blouses when hanging around with
\nfriends may be greeted by fashion lovers with a frown.<\/p>\n
But the idea appeals to the Bali-based fashion designer Irsan,
\nwho translated the idea with full enthusiasm into his latest
\ncreations, which were presented to an audience at La Indonesia
\nrestaurant here on Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n
Entitled The Story of Grandma, his creations were presented in
\na country atmosphere and a theatrical way.<\/p>\n
Opened with the reading of a poetic letter written by a
\ngrandmother to her late husband, the show was divided into three
\nacts. The models included children and old women.<\/p>\n
\"I dedicate this show to my mother. She's a tough woman,\" said
\nIrsan, praising his mother Kholidjah Batubara after the show,
\nwhich was held to coincide with his 27th birthday.<\/p>\n
The designer's favorite color, white, dominated the
\ncollections presented in the first act, entitled Soerat Tjinta
\n(Love Letter).<\/p>\n
Clad in various shapes of white brocade kebaya dresses
\ndirectly ordered from Paris, sleeveless and transparent cotton
\nand polyester blouses decorated with lace, the dresses were
\nmatched with batik, knee-length or ankle-length skirts and flat
\nsandals or low-heeled shoes.<\/p>\n
Irsan, who used to work as an assistant stylist at Didi
\nBudihardjo's Anonymous fashion studio and then as assistant
\ndesigner for Adjie Notonegoro's House of Adjie fashion studio in
\nJakarta, said that he selected kebaya dresses not to follow the
\npresent fashion trend.<\/p>\n
\"I never follow trends ... It's just that through these
\ncollections I want to show that we can use whatever we find here
\nin our country as long as we're creative,\" said the designer, who
\nprepared his creations for the show only in two weeks.<\/p>\n
After researching traditional textiles in the country, he
\nblended ethnical nuances by selecting traditional fabrics, such
\nas woven fabrics from Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara and bright
\nsarongs from North Sumatra, which gave a fresh touch to his
\ndesigns.<\/p>\n
The sarong-dominated creations were presented casually in the
\nsecond act. But unlike the old-fashioned way of wearing batik or
\nsarongs, Irsan's clear-cut sarongs are unique since they are easy
\nto wear and match all kinds of blouses.<\/p>\n
\"I blend ready-to-wear fashion with ethnical nuances which are
\nnot too formal and don't follow certain requirements (according
\nto traditional fashion). It is up to us how a dress is worn, not
\nhow it should be worn,\" said Irsan, who prefers to call himself a
\ntailor.<\/p>\n
Apart from his unique sarong collection, Irsan's two wedding
\ndresses -- a western-inspired dress and an Indonesian one with a
\nglittering sarong and white brocade kebaya -- attracted the most
\nattention, receiving thunderous applause from the audience who
\npraised the simplicity of his design.<\/p>\n
The designer, who set up his own fashion studio, the House of
\nIrsan, in Kuta, Bali, in 1993 where he caters to made-to-order
\nfashion -- mostly evening gowns, introduced his second line,
\nIrsan 1711 early this year. And next year, the designer is
\nscheduled to present his collections at the Fashion Cafe and
\nHotel Kempinski, where he is scheduled to open a House of Irsan
\nboutique in January.<\/p>\n
A fashion lover, Yoke Wibawa, praised Irsan's new collection
\nas creative and whimsical.<\/p>\n
\"I see he blends facts and imagination in creating his
\ndesigns,\" she said after the show.<\/p>\n
She also found it appealing that Irsan chose sarongs to
\ntranslate his creativity. \"Now I think, wearing sarongs, why not?
\nAnd the kebaya is not old-fashioned either.\"<\/p>",
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