Awards presented to fashion industry's best
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian fashion industry has become an inseparable element of contemporary culture. With fashion's dynamic growth in the last two decades, Indonesia has every reason to hold an annual event to show the appreciation of the fashion world -- just like the various national awards in music and other art performances.
First, there was the Redmod Award, from the end of the 1980s to the early 1990s. The Redmod -- an abbreviation of Redaktur Mode (Fashion Editors) -- Board was dissolved after the closure of some women's magazines during that period and because of internal matters. Later came the annual Jakarta Fashion Week which was supported by The Jakarta Tourism Board in 1996. This event also saw local appreciation for Indonesia's fashion society. But Jakarta Fashion Week was held only twice because of the monetary crisis. The vacuum left was filled by Fashion Cafe Jakarta, which needed domestic recognition to be called one of Jakarta's fashion centers. Hence the staging of a fashion award contest.
Starting last year, the contest, called the Fashion Cafe Award, was held for the second time on Nov. 17, when Imelda and George Taka were named The Walk of 1999.
"The most important criteria is the model's discipline and attitude," said choreographer Aida Nurmala Isa, one of the 12 judges who consist of fashion editors, a photographer and an event organizer.
Other criteria are the model's height (more than 172 cm for women models and 180 cm for males) and the frequency they are on the catwalk. It was due to her discipline that Indah Mayang Indriyani was chosen as the 1999 Favorite Model, beating the more popular Karenina Maria and newcomer Catherine Wilson.
Indah cried over her award. "I can't believe it," she said. "I am still a newcomer."
Indah started her career as a model in March 1998, after a neighbor, a talent scout, submitted her photograph to a audition.
"I used to be a fat tomboy," she said. The mockery she heard during the audition prompted Indah to go on a strict diet. "I lost seven kilos in three months," said Indah, now 172 cm tall and weighing 48 kilos.
Her commitment to hard work awarded her a very tight schedule in modeling. "It was record breaking when I got working appointments for 24 consecutive days," recalled the model, who is nicknamed Rising Star. Her baby face has also appeared in magazines and on TV as well as in Canadian singer Bobby Curtola's music video clip.
Indah took her second award that night as The 1999 Most Promising Model, while the male model the award went to Alde Baran. Another prestigious award, the 1999 Unique Indonesia Model, was introduced for the first time. It was grabbed by Ochi Rosyanti, who beat former cover girl Noni Chirilda.
Ochi, whose real name is Apriani Inelza Rosyanti, has an exotic Palembang (South Sumatra) face which she considers an asset for going international. "Hopefully I can do it soon, maybe next year. I am heading to a Singaporean modeling agency," she said.
The 21-year-old woman from Lahat was known as the tallest girl at school. "Thanks to my 178 centimeters in height," Ochi smiled. "But being tall is a gift to pave my way to a career as a runway model."
Ochi was a finalist of Indonesia Elite Model 1996, and after that came to believe modeling would become her way of life. "But sometimes I still have an ambition to sing jazz again," said Ochi, who used to sing as well. "A model and a singer, isn't it another unique element?"
In the fashion designer category, the 1999 Best Kebaya Award went to Edward Hutabarat. Hutabarat won all the judges' hearts, beating Ghea Panggabean and Susan Budiardjo.
The judges had to vote before awarding designer Didi Budiharjo the 1999 Classic Evening Award that left nominee Biyan Wanaatmadja behind. The Avant Garde of 1999 Award was given to Surabaya-based Kiata Kwanda, who beat Oscar Lawalata and Urban Crew, a design label of Ichwan Thoha & Era Soekamto.
"Urban Crew's achievement by having international cooperation with Lycra is absolutely an added value," said senior fashion writer Ninuk Pambudy. "But it also cuts their creativity to the marketable level, making them not as avant garde as they could be."
Again Urban Crew failed to grab the 1999 Newcomers Designer Award, which was won by Oscar Lawalata. Another nominee for Indonesian Best Newcomers Designer was Kanaya Tabitha. While the Life Achievement Award went to veteran dressmaker Peter Sie.
"He is considered the pioneer who opened the Indonesian fashion gate," explained fashion photographer and one of the judges, Benno Harun.
The Fashion Award II had additional categories this year for supportive elements in the fashion industry, including the press, TV and fashionable music video clips. Kompas morning daily was chosen the best fashion printed media while Kaya Gaya, aired by RCTI every Saturday morning, was awarded The Best Supporting Fashion TV Program of 1999. The Most Fashionable Music Video Clip went to Titi Dwijayati, whose modern kimono costume worn in her single Bahasa Kalbu (Language of the Heart) video clip won over the judges.
The professional judges also considered the result of a poll organized by Fashion Cafe Jakarta and various leading department stores in the city. "We plan to maintain the whole 1999 team to do the same job next year because optimism toward the economy ensures us that Indonesian fashion will be bigger and bigger," added Hotma Tobing, promotion manager of Fashion Cafe, who also acted as head of the event. (Agni Amorita)