What does one 'wear' during the economic crisis?<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The economic abyss into which the country has
\nfallen has destroyed numerous businesses and has brought even
\nmore to the verge of bankruptcy. The unemployment rate continues
\nto rise and rapid inflation is gnawing relentlessly away at
\npeople's incomes.<\/p>\n
The fashion business has not remained free from the vagaries
\nof the crisis.<\/p>\n
Many in the fashion business have been forced to turn to
\nlocally-made material since the rupiah's free fall against the
\nU.S. dollar sent prices of imported goods soaring beyond the
\nfinancial means of most entrepreneurs in the country.<\/p>\n
This is what people had to say about how the economic crisis
\nhas affected their choice of clothes.<\/p>\n
Ingrid Widjanarko, a businesswoman in the entertainments
\nindustry:<\/p>\n
I have never been crazy about brand names, but I do take an
\ninterest in colors and design. My idea of dressing up is always
\nto mix-and-match, so it was never a question of buying new
\nclothes every other week.<\/p>\n
I have always preferred sporty and fancy designs. But whatever
\nI buy from the boutiques here, it always bears the boutique's
\nname on the tags ... no actual brand. This perhaps means that the
\nitems were bought in some cheap market in Hong Kong and are being
\nsold here at much higher prices.<\/p>\n
Yes, I do have Dolce Gabbana and Versace Jeans, but my
\nfavorite pair is something I picked at a fleamarket in
\nFreemantle, Australia ... that's four hours by car from Perth.<\/p>\n
I used to buy Esprit, Guess and Emporio Armani simply because
\nI suffer from occasional lapar mata (hungry eyes), but then I
\nnever used to wear any of those clothes. So now I try to stick to
\nbuying clothes that I know I will wear. For me they have to be
\nstylish and sporty, and it does not matter if they do not carry a
\nbrand name. It has reduced my spending to Rp 1 million a month.<\/p>\n
Sys N.S., manager of Radio Muara Indonesia:<\/p>\n
Let's put it this way. Say, I used to buy five outfits a month
\nbefore the crisis. Now, it is just one. I usually wear Perry Elis
\nand Valentino shirts, Versace and Hugo Boss Jeans and Versace
\nneck-ties.<\/p>\n
Today, I only buy clothes when I find them really attractive.
\nI still wear the same brands, but my wife probably goes shopping
\nfor them once every three months, and she uses the (credit) card,
\nnot cash.<\/p>\n
Debby Sahertian, TV series director<\/p>\n
Before the crisis, I used to buy Prada, Louis Vuitton and Yves
\nSaint Laurent handbags, and Linea and Charles Jordan shoes. Now I
\nhave shifted to local brands like Cherry shoes, or even stylish
\nsandals from Bali.<\/p>\n
I always get my evening gowns from Ghea Panggabean's, Itang
\nYunasz's and Biyan's collections. I still wear their old stuff
\nthat cost between Rp 100,000 and Rp 750,000.<\/p>\n
Lulu Dewayanti, model:<\/p>\n
I don't have a favorite fashion designer. Sometimes I buy
\nclothes from overseas designers when I am abroad, simple
\napparel... things like blazers.<\/p>\n
Most of the time, I go to Mangga Dua shopping center in
\nJakarta for my day to day needs. What is important for me is that
\nthe clothes are nice and comfortable. Famous brands are not
\nimportant to me.<\/p>\n
If I really need clothes for a special occasion, I usually
\njust go to Metro (department store), but again, I am not a brand-
\nminded person. I just look for clothes that are simple, nice and
\nappropriate for the occasion.<\/p>\n
I usually buy footwear and garments when I am abroad, but this
\nfinancial turmoil has forced me to reduce the frequency of my
\nshopping sprees.<\/p>\n
I would say that domestic designers are very competitive now,
\nmeaning they can be as well qualified as those overseas. I
\nunderstand that certain tailors are able to make blazers just as
\nwell as Armani.<\/p>\n
I think their prices will eventually increase and I dare say
\nthat demand will drop off.<\/p>\n
Gladys Suwandhi, artist:<\/p>\n
I've been wearing local designers' products since about six
\nyears ago. My husband has turned to Nicholas Edo, a local
\ndesigner, too.<\/p>\n
In the past, I would buy international brands while I was
\nabroad. I chose casual designs because they could hardly be found
\nin Indonesia.<\/p>\n
But now I have to think more than twice before buying clothes
\nwhen I am abroad because things have become so expensive in this
\nfinancial crisis. In any case, I've not been abroad this year.<\/p>\n
It's a good thing I bought dozens of pairs of my favorite
\nclassical model shoes long before the financial crisis hit
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
In my opinion, local designers are good. I think in some
\ncases, designers are still using imported materials so their
\nprices are high. But I believe they have the means to compete
\nwith overseas designers.<\/p>",
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