Young designer promotes ready-to-wear collection<\/p>\n
By Stevie Emilia<\/p>\n
LOMBOK, West Nusa Tenggara (JP): Expressionless models wearing
\nchic, clear-cut, all-white, simple ready-to-wear outfits took to
\nthe stage with slow strides under the shade of palm trees.<\/p>\n
Most of the outfits, made of French linen, light cotton and
\ncotton-polyester, were sleeveless -- perfect for tropical weather
\n-- while skirt lengths varied but were mostly knee length for day
\nsuits or ankle length for evening wear.<\/p>\n
Male models were clad in loose white trousers or short pants
\nand white shirts, and some even bare-chested, and carried net
\nbags as accessories.<\/p>\n
In all, it was refreshing to see that the first ready-to-wear
\ncollection by Bali-based young fashion designer Irsan offered
\nmore day suits, easy to wear and to combine with other outfits
\nwithout much hassle.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old designer, a former student of Susan Budihardjo
\nfashion school, said he had long dreamed of presenting his
\ndifferent creations.<\/p>\n
"For me, it was really a quite difficult and sensitive
\ndecision to enter the ready-to-wear field. It took me some years
\nto set up Irsan 1711 as the second line because my real interest
\nwas in unique couture production," Irsan told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The designer, who prefers to be called a tailor, previously
\nworked as an assistant stylist at Didi Budihardjo's Anonymous
\nfashion studio and then as assistant designer for Adjie
\nNotonegoro's House of Adjie fashion studio in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He then decided to set up his own fashion studio, the House of
\nIrsan, in Kuta, Bali, in 1993, where he catered to made-to-order
\nfashion, mostly evening gowns.<\/p>\n
But the ongoing crisis also effected Irsan's decision to
\nintroduce his second-line collection.<\/p>\n
"We have no problems with our first-line clients. They're
\nstill plenty. But to get more clients, there's no harm in
\ncreating more affordable clothing," said the young designer, who
\ntried to mix his early passion, painting, with fashion.<\/p>\n
Irsan, who prepared the show in a month, introduced his
\nsecond-line collection at the Sheraton Senggigi Hotel, Lombok,
\nwhere he also opened his first ready-to-wear boutique under the
\nlabel of Irsan 1711.<\/p>\n
"My ready-to-wear items, however, show the real Irsan, who
\nloves simplicity. Not Irsan who is still inspired by Dior or
\nother well-known designers," said the designer, who loves to
\ndress in simple outfits.<\/p>\n
Apart from his white collection, Irsan also presented his gray
\nready-to-wear outfits, made mostly of polyester-wool and cotton-
\npolyester and which are easy to match with other apparel.<\/p>\n
But it was his crme creations that showed off the designer's
\nskill in cutting, with each design, made of satin crepe de Chine
\nand chiffon crepe, classy and stylish.<\/p>\n
The highlight of Irsan's ready-to-wear clothing was his black
\nattire made of polyester-silk, offering simple but exquisite
\nfashion, responding to the daily needs of modern women, who need
\nclothes that they can wear both at the office and later on a
\nnight out.<\/p>\n
The most appealing creation was a floor-length black gown with
\nnarrow straps which hugged the model's hips and created a
\nsilhouette from a distance.<\/p>\n
As if to justify the designer's commitment to simplicity, the
\nmodels did not wear too many accessories with his ready-to-wear
\ncreations.<\/p>\n
The models simply wore flat leather sandals or carried net
\nbags in their hands or on their shoulders. Most attractive of all
\nwere the long elegant stoles, made of silk organza and hand
\nembroidered in a fashionable batik pattern, worn with some of the
\napparel. All the accessories were designed by Irsan.<\/p>\n
"People will like my ready-to-wear outfits because they are
\nsimple," reasoned Irsan, who used to travel to fashion cities
\nabroad and read fashion books to sharpen his skills.<\/p>\n
He said the creation process of his second-line collection did
\nnot differ much from that of his first line.<\/p>\n
"The difference is that my second-line creations have sizes,
\nfrom small to extra large, so it is for the public in general.
\nBut my first-line creations are made based on my own creativity,
\nor based on my clients' requests and needs, so they should be
\nperfect and certainly take more time to make," said Irsan, who
\ndeclined to reveal the prices of his creations.<\/p>\n
A Canadian tourist among the audience praised Irsan's
\nready-to-wear pieces' simplicity.<\/p>\n
"The selection of colors is gorgeous, especially for tropical
\nislands like here. But I think those outfits are only made for
\nAsian people, small in size, and not for people of my size," she
\nlaughed.<\/p>\n
Couture creations<\/p>\n
The hallmark of the fashion show was Irsan's evening dresses,
\nhis first line, presented in the last sequence of his La
\nContradiction fashion show.<\/p>\n
Unlike the procession of his ready-to-wear collections, where
\nthe models were expressionless in their plain makeup and
\nsprinkling of accessories, his first line was lively with the
\nmodels blending their expressions and movements according to the
\nattire they were wearing and rhythmical beats of the music.<\/p>\n
This time the models were also adorned with elegant silver
\nnecklaces, lace gloves, feminine bags and their hair and faces
\nwere attractively done.<\/p>\n
"I open my ready-to-wear collection with an absolute minimal,
\nbut I end it with a baroque outcry," Irsan said. "My first line
\nis baroque dresses which can be classical and display strong
\npersonal character."<\/p>\n
His unique evening dresses unmistakenly showed the designer's
\nspecial touches, his devotion to classical fashion and fantasy.<\/p>\n
A model, clad in a sleeveless and strapless black and yellow
\ntop with a tiger motif and an ankle-length black skirt that
\nhugged her hips, opened the lineup of Irsan's couture creations.<\/p>\n
The following outfits really displayed the designer's source
\nof inspiration: classical opera, masked parties and Halloween
\ncostumes.<\/p>\n
One of the models appeared on stage wearing a strapless,
\nfloor-length white wedding gown while carrying a corsage in one
\nhand. However, her makeup, with thick black eye shadow and black
\nmascara that seemed to almost drip down to her cheek, reminded
\none of Frankenstein's bride.<\/p>\n
"I do love classic. Classical music, opera and also fashion.
\nAnd my taste is reflected in my designs," Irsan said.<\/p>\n
But Irsan's fancy for traditional dress was obvious when a
\nmodel elegantly took to the stage attired in a long, white lace
\nkebaya and sarong.<\/p>\n
A businesswoman, Dita, who was among the audience, expressed
\nadmiration for Irsan's first-line designs. "The first-line
\ncreations show the designer's unique skills and his willingness
\nto turn wild fantasy into reality...," she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/young-designer-promotes-ready-to-wear-collection-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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