Awards presented to fashion industry's best

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)