APPMI promotes fashion for everybody
By Agni Amorita
JAKARTA (JP): To welcome the year 2001, the Indonesian Fashion Designer Association (APPMI) held an attractive and friendly show to set the trends for the coming year.
Most designers grouped in APPMI were eager to get closer to their fans and clientele by organizing the four-day fashion show at Fountain Terrace, Plaza Senayan shopping center in South Jakarta.
It was a down-to-earth show and the venue allowed all visitors, including street vendors, an opportunity to take a glance at the catwalk.
Generally, fashion shows take place in hotel ballrooms or luxurious venues targeting the wealthy.
For this year's fashion show, APPMI's member designers -- only one third of its 79 members -- place more emphasis on wearable, marketable clothes aimed at consumers of all groups.
The Starting Point of the New Era was the main theme of the show. The starting point for every member of the association to be more professional to face the tough challenges in the fashion industry.
The first day of the show was opened by six newcomers and non- members of APPMI, Lenny Agustin, Ernawati, Natalina Deviani, Helena Lasmidewi, Putu Aliki, Reshna Setiawan and Rodhua Yulianti Panggabean.
Their creations were fresh and inspiring, especially for newcomers.
The second day featured senior designers such as Iva Lativah, Ida Royani and Gusmi Jufri. They presented designs for female Muslim apparel or Busana Muslim.
Bandung designer Gusmi presented embroidery and ethnic ornaments such as motif of rumah gadang (traditional house with architectural style of West Sumatra's ethnic group).
The designer smartly blended fresh bright colors and floral accents to cater for the youth.
Singer-designer Ida Royani displayed a series of Busana Muslim in a special theme Nuansa Bening (Pure Nuance). Pale and pastel colors dominated the collection. As usual, her designs were simple yet elegant.
Another Busana Muslim designer Anne Rufaidah explored folk themes deriving ideas from gypsy clothes. She also emphasized l980s styles.
Olga Tampake, Dina Midiani and Musa Widyatmodjo (APPMI's chairman) appeared on the third day. Senior designers like Poppy Dharsono, Vincent Fac and Taruna K. Kusmayadi displayed their latest works in the evening.
The long silhouette and two-to-three piece cuttings dominated the show. The concentration on fashion details such as embroidery, sequins and fashion nails were more popular than introducing new experiments as they once did.
Dina Midiani took a surrealistic approach presenting her colorful funky dresses. Olga Tampake consistently stayed with white and black as her fashion statement.
Musa showed his maturity. Inspired by rich Minangkabau ethnic ornaments from West Sumatra, Musa created glittering collections. He also created jewelry with Minangkabau styles.
"My philosophy is traditional value in international taste," Musa explained. Poppy Dharsono took batik as her main theme. She exploited the beauty and classical design of Surakarta batik as modern outfits. She used kawung pattern but modified it both in colors and designs.
Vincent also used batik as his main inspiration. He explored pesisiran (coastal) batik of Rembang (Central Java) and Juwana batik. Taruna's designs, on the other hand, were very contemporary, exposing butterfly motifs.
The last day of the show was concluded with the collections of Aan Ibrahim, Soffie and Afif Syakur.
The show also presented Agnes Budisurya's romantic gowns, Ilona Sumarijanto's daisy flower dresses, Eliza's gold and bronze dresses.