Bali set to become Indonesia's fashion capital

Bali set to become Indonesia's fashion capital

By Rita A. Widiadana

NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): Bali is quickly becoming Indonesia's
fashion capital with the opening of International Bali Fashion
Week 2000 on Wednesday.

The event at the Bali International Convention Center (BICC)
in Nusa Dua was intricately opened with a traditional Balinese
dance called the kecak. Dozens of male dancers wearing poleng
(traditional costume) appeared on the catwalk. Accompanied by a
Balinese gamelan orchestra, the dancers energetically moved
around the stage as dry ice created a mystical atmosphere in the
modern convention center, a sharp contrast between tradition and
modernity.

Before the kecak dance finished, several models appeared on
the runway featuring outfits from participating designers and
garment factories in The Color of Indonesian Fashion show.

The event was attended by 100 fashion garment factories,
textile industries, jewelrymakers, including Animale, Batik
Busana, Bintang Talimas Textindo, Aaron Chang Clothing, Tini's
Collections, JM Fashion, Image Collection and many others.

Local designers, such as Guruh Soekarnoputra, Poppy Dharsono,
Adrianto Halim, Olga and Musa were also taking part in the event.

Guruh, the youngest brother of Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, said this was his first time participating in an
international fashion event.

"I am a new kid in the fashion industry, but I am very
excited," said Guruh, a well-known music composer and dance
choreographer.

Bali Fashion Week, which is being held from July 5 to July 8,
is expected to act as a catapult for local designers, garment
producers, textile factories, jewelrymakers and other related
fashion producers to launch them into the international market.

Mardiana Ika, the chairperson of the organizing committee,
said during the opening ceremony that the event was the biggest
leap the local fashion industry had made in the fashion world.

"Some Indonesian designers have made their names abroad, but
this is an individual achievement. We want to go together and the
event will unite us," said Ika, a designer who is famous in Hong
Kong, England and Germany.

Vice Governor Ketut Wijana mentioned he was glad Bali was
chosen as the venue of this international fashion event.

"Bali has become well-known as one of Indonesia's most
prominent textile and garment producers," he said.

"The event will encourage local companies and designers to be
more professional and export-oriented. It will also have a
positive impact on the island's tourism," he added.

The textile and garment industry is part of the country's
economic backbone. Data from the National Export Council has
revealed that Indonesia's garment exports reached US$3.8 billion
or almost 10 percent of the total non-oil export revenues, which
amounts to $38.87 billion.

Pia Alisyahbana, a noted fashion observer and owner of Femina
Group magazines, said Bali Fashion Week was a step in the right
direction for fostering a greater awareness of Indonesian fashion
and design.

"Indonesia has an abundance of talented designers whose work
is comparable to those of foreign designers, yet they have to
promote their work more," she said.

This ongoing fashion week will facilitate garment producers,
designers and buyers, including local and foreign department
stores, boutiques and other interested parties.

"Indonesian designers should not only create designs but they
have to master the art of trade," said Pia.

She also said that by taking part in international fashion
weeks in Singapore, Hong Kong and now in Bali, local designers'
products would have better value and increase competitiveness in
local and world markets.

Designer Poppy Dharsono added that the event would give an
opportunity for buyers to pick up their best choice.

"It is a rare fashion event which brings together all the
elements of the fashion industry -- designers, garment producers,
the textile industry and potential buyers," said Poppy, who is
the chairwoman of the Indonesian Garment Producers' Association.

International Bali Fashion Week 2000 is jointly organized by
Yayasan Moda Bali, Yayasan Promosi Jakarta, Panorama Convex, the
Bali International Convention Center and is widely supported by
local hotels, such as the Bali Hyatt, Begawan Giri Estate,
Sheraton Laguna and other related parties.

The event will highlight a series of fashion shows by
participants, designer-model talk shows and fashion shows for
children.

All fashion activities will be widely covered by local and
foreign media, including CNN, South China Morning Post, Women's
Wear Daily USA, Book Moda of Italy and Fashion TV L'Original.

On July 5 and July 6, the event will be intended as a business
exposition and to allow transactions for potential buyers. On
July 7 and July 8, it is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.