Bali awaits Fashion Fusion show

Bali awaits Fashion Fusion show

Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Bali never ceases to run out of attractions to capture the
attention of tourists. After the successful Bali Fashion Week in
August, the paradise island is gearing up for another huge
fashion show at the end of this year.

Fashion Fusion, which will take place at the Ritz-Carlton Bali
Resort and Spa from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, will feature the new
designs of Hong Kong's leading designer Kevin Yeung, Yogyakarta-
based batik specialist Afif Syakur, Musa Widyatmodjo of Jakarta
and noted gold-and-silver jewelry designer Runi Palar.

Mardiana Ika, who helps organizing the event in commemoration
of the resort's fifth anniversary, told a press conference on
Monday here that the initial fashion show is to showcase the high
caliber of Indonesian designers.

"I have proven through Bali Fashion Week that we could
introduce Indonesian designers to the world."

Yeung, who is also chairman of the Hong Kong Fashion Designers
Association, will display his latest collection. During the
conference, Yeung presented a spaghetti-strap gown, the back of
the gown black and the front white. On the front of the gown he
stitched black organdy triangles giving it a zebra look. The gown
came with long black-and-white gloves.

The Hong Kong designer, who is known for his superior cut,
also presented an off-one-shoulder black top, exposing the
model's back, with black tight-fitting pants.

Afif featured two designs from his latest collection Misteri
Soga. He also modified traditional attire to adapt to
international trends.

He displayed a light-maroon tank top with batik pants and
wrap. The batik, printed on hand-spun silk, featured a dark gray
diagonal motif.

Another outfit was a square-motif sarong with tumpal
(distinctive motif in a panel) on the front. It was combined with
a purple bustier and a purple organdy blouse.

"Batik is an art. We must treat it like painting. Batik is
completely different from textiles with a batik motif," Afif
said.

Jakartan Musa introduced his mosha quilt sewing technique in
his new designs combining traditional motifs from West and
Central Java.

Sekar Jagad featured a simple white sack dress and a wrap. It
seemed nothing extraordinary but the quilted wrap had a batik
motif in the same color.

As for Mega Mendung, Musa presented a white three-quarter-
sleeve blouse with Mandarin collar and a long white matching
skirt.

"I want to combine good taste with traditional values in my
designs."

Aside from featuring latest designs, Fashion Fusion will also
display the latest jewelry collection of Runa House, owned by
Runi and husband Adri Palar.

For the upcoming event, Runi will display her sterling silver,
22-carat gold and 24-carat gold collection.

"The jewelry is 100 percent handmade with several specific
techniques such as granulation work and classical technique," she
said.

To welcome its guests, Ritz-Carlton is offering a special
package for the event, which is expected to become an annual
event, worth US$295.