Young creative designers take it to the movies<\/p>\n
By Adrian Smith<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Cinema is the commanding art form. Perhaps no
\nother form of expression has captured and influenced the popular
\nmodern imagination to quite the same extent. With such rich
\nvisual planes spanning the past century, it provides a delectable
\nfeast for all those wishing to fashion their fantasies.<\/p>\n
That was the task set for young designers across the nation,
\nwith the finalists \"fashioning\" it out at Plaza Senayan in the
\nGrand Final of the Indonesian Creative Fashion Contest 2001 last
\nSunday.<\/p>\n
This was no staid \"ready-to-wear\" collection on display. It
\nwas the opportunity for talented youngsters with a flair for
\nfashion to unleash their wildest imagination, casting their
\ncinematic fantasies onto corporeal cloth.<\/p>\n
With the theme set in celluloid, the choice of subject was, as
\none might expect, more amorphous and eclectic; from identifiable
\nfictional luminaries such as Terminator, Charlie Chaplin,
\nCleopatra to more conceptual celluloid spaces such as The
\nCoquettish Maid In The City, Thumbellina a Metamorph, Queen of
\nDeath and Barong Sai Girl.<\/p>\n
\"The Oscar is a monumental piece of artwork and I wanted to
\nincorporate that into my design. My favorite films are from
\nHollywood and my favorite actress is Sara Betts,\" said one
\ncontender, Laksmi Rahayu from Bandung.<\/p>\n
\"I just like women in military uniform and G.I. Joe was the
\nbest film of all time. Demi Moore ... she was just the best,\"
\nsaid Roy Mulyanto of his Military Camp Girl.<\/p>\n
How did the designers come up with their designs?<\/p>\n
\"I was interested in Egyptian philosophy, the triangulation of
\nthe Gods, human beings and the Earth. That's why my design is
\nmade of triangles, \" said Ratna Santoso, the creator of View of
\nthe Light.<\/p>\n
Many of the designs took on opposing themes and sought to
\nmaterially amalgamate them. The eventual winner, Ahmad Aziz, came
\nup with something that fused a futuristic robotic creation with
\nclassical Indonesian fabrics and style. The result looked like a
\ncross between Robocop and Darth Vader wearing a sarong and
\nblangkon (traditional Javanese men's hat).<\/p>\n
The combination of seemingly incongruous materials was
\ncreative to say the least, with elastic rubber and stainless
\nsteel fittings on acrylic as just a tantalizing taster of what
\nwas on offer.<\/p>\n
Indeed, a popular theme among many was to develop a creation
\nto commingle Hollywood dreams with Indonesian fashion traditions,
\nthough, with hindsight, Ahmad's design appeared more clearly
\ncommunicated and confidently executed perhaps than others.<\/p>\n
Some took on different aspects of visual representation
\naltogether.<\/p>\n
\"My design was divided into two; the military camouflage was
\nthe masculine side while the plain pastel color was the feminine
\nside. I wanted my design to bring the two sides together\", Roy
\ndescribed.<\/p>\n
Woody Allen is famous for having shunned the Oscars when one
\nof his past films was nominated, his argument being that it was
\nridiculous for anyone to imagine that is possible to judge one
\nfilm against another. When fashions designs have already reached
\nsuch a high standard and have cat-walked off the spectrum of
\ndaily practicability what do judges look for?<\/p>\n
\"They will be judging us on the design concept. This involves
\nhow well the idea is communicated and carried out, such as the
\ncut of the fabric and how creatively the materials are combined
\nand used\", one of the contestants told me backstage prior to the
\nshow.<\/p>\n
The official response came from one of the managers, \"The
\ncriteria of this project is to have talented young designers who
\nhave financial obstacles. We have selected the grand finalists
\ndue to their background and design. We emphasize the creativity
\nthrough the use of materials, using the theme of film\".\"<\/p>\n
The show took off with suitable aplomb. The atrium of Plaza
\nSenayan transformed into a theatrical stage. The exposed multi-
\nstoried shopping mall provided natural balconies thronging with
\navid voyeurs.<\/p>\n
With such fantasies on freeload, the architectural atmosphere
\ncould have appeared reminiscent of a galleried arena tempered by
\nlate 20th century consumerism. Musical numbers such as \"Shakin'
\nthat ass\", though, helped to bring me down to reality.<\/p>\n
Rounds of applause greeted each entrant. The models donned in
\ntheir designer's creation strutted their stuff. Santosa Lauw's
\n\"Cleopatra\" even had a group of hunky men clad in ancient
\nEgyptian wear to carry the model up and down.<\/p>\n
The winners of such a show can hope to go onto greater things.
\nThe publicity they receive gives them a higher profile and the
\nprize money and scholarships allow them to concentrate, with
\ngreater ease, on their vocation, a seasoned fashion journalist
\ntold me.<\/p>\n
If the current, more down-to-earth designs of last year's
\nwinner are anything to go by, Ahmad Aziz has a promising and
\ncreative future ahead of him.<\/p>",
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