Clothes made for the real world

Clothes made for the real world

Dean Sjahmedi, Contributor, Jakarta

Explosive, fun fashion creations from 91 students went on show
in Jakarta recently in a glitzy, graduation-night catwalk show
that audience members said was just like the real thing.

The students, who had just graduated from Jakarta's branch of
the international ESMOD fashion design school, showed off their
designs to friends and family, magazine editors and
photographers, and most importantly, an independent panel of
fashion designer judges.

Aimed to mirror an industry fashion show, the students were
expected to act like professionals, designing and creating
garments from patterns and sourcing, dressing and choreographing
models on the catwalk and dealing with the media and the public.

The mostly playful designs and styles were as eclectic as the
different materials used, a likely response to the name and theme
of the show Made in World .

Pony-tailed models in hot pants wore holstered cowboy pistols
alongside wavy double-bladed keris, others wore trench coats made
of batik, a floral skirt was teamed up with a jockey's cap, a
girlie dress was matched with a masked hood, manga-style.

While what the students presented was generally pleasing to
the eye, mischievous creations outnumbered those that were
seriously concerned with commercial designs.

Fashion designer Deden Siswanto, one of the judges that night,
said that as novice designers, the ESMOD students were daring in
expressing themselves and had presented some refreshing ideas to
the audience.

"Given their great enthusiasm, I'm optimistic that there will
be no need to worry about the next generation of fashion
designers in Indonesia," Deden said.

Miranty M. Lemy, managing editor of Harper's Bazaar magazine,
said the students' creations on show that night showed an
improvement in design quality. A judge at similar events for the
past five years, Miranty was impressed at the accuracy of the
students in matching their design concepts to their output.

"This year the situation is quite encouraging. Amazingly, one
student, just 17 years old, has earned the award for best
pattern-maker. This must be the result of the school's continuing
efforts to improve and adjust the curriculum."

Yogie Pratama Wijaya, one of the participating students, said
he believed this was the most exciting graduation ESMOD had ever
had.

"Many of my classmates also agree with me in this regard. We
are so excited about seeing everyone's creations," he said.

Yogie said after graduating from the school he would change
his focus from dressmaking to learn more about the other aspects
of the fashion business -- organizing fashion events,
choreography and model management.

The school's president director, Mayadewi Hartarto, said the
international nature of ESMOD meant that future students could
gain inspiration from fellow graduates around the world.

"Fortunately, our schools are based in 10 countries, so we
have the opportunity to participate in international activities
and I hope international ESMOD events will start being held in
Jakarta next year."