Fashion and interior design reflect one's lifestyle

Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Do you remember the Von Trapp' children roaming around Saltzburg dressed in nothing but some old drapes in The Sound of Music?

In the much-loved film, drapes were used to make simple play clothes for the children to replace their "formal" jackets. However, in the hands of the world's leading designers like John Galliano at Christian Dior, Lars Nilsson at Bill Blass and Oscar de la Renta for Pierre Balmain, upholstery fabrics, such as a 18- century French toile de jouy and scalamandre, have been transformed into glamorous, elegant gowns.

But, there is more to fashion and interior design than just fabrics. Of course deep understanding of various materials is imperative but both fields involve a lot of creativity to come up with creations that are not only functional but at the same time reflect aesthetic excellence.

Both fashion and interior designers forecast lifestyles and set trends, in terms of shapes, prints, colors and fabrics.

"It's about the innovative interpretation of lifestyles and trends," said ethnic fashion designer Ghea Panggabean on the sidelines of a fashion show, marking the 25th anniversary of Elite Grahacipta interior design showroom in Jl. Kyai Maja, South Jakarta.

And just like fashion, interior design and its elements are all works of art, said L. Shinta from Elite. But, she added that interior design has not been given the appreciation it deserves in Indonesia.

Ghea and five other noted fashion designers: Sebastian Gunawan, Eddy Betty, Adrian Gan, Didi Budihardjo and Kanaya Tabitha were invited to showcase their elegant and luxurious creations, reflecting a style that complimented modern Asian interior design by American interior designer Thomas Elliot, dubbed the Richness of Monotones and the glamorous designs of Indonesian interior designer Jaya Ibrahim, titled A Journey from Earthly Asia to Exotic Europe.

Design and quality are important as they are priceless and timeless values.

Ghea said interior designs are often embellished with priceless antiques or other beautiful ethnic elements and a similar thing also happens in fashion, where ethnic elements are adapted to fit modern fashion designs.

"Like antique items, ethnic elements have their own strength and I'm glad that the ethnic theme was visible in both fields," said the designer whose kimono-inspired designs were displayed during the show.

Ghea focused on natural tones derived from leaves, earthy hues like terra-cotta, brown and orange or from precious gems like turquoise.

Although there are no standards for which interior fabrics can or cannot be used in fashion (and vice versa), at least it meets certain descriptions.

"High quality interior fabrics that are soft with beautiful prints and textures can be used in fashion designs," said Adrian.

Adrian himself also used tassels in one of his nightgowns to create a cloud effect to fit Chinese-influenced theme Naga di Atas Awan (Dragon in the Clouds).

Like other famous designers' works, Didi Budihardjo's feminine creations also accentuated the elegant and luxurious lifestyle with the use of flowing materials.

"Next year women want to indulge themselves even more than this year," he said.

The use of different cultural elements in the forms of prints, fabrics, colors and shapes in fashion and interior designs also expressed public openness toward designs and awareness of what they really want.

"As long as these elements are blended wisely, each item can support the other and so create a harmonious balance," said another fashion designer Sebastian Gunawan, whose 2002/2003 theme is Eclectic Emotion.

Although interior trends are not as fast changing as that of fashion, designers in both sectors recognize the return of past trends with "fresh" faces.

For next year's fashion trends, the designers agree that sexy and feminine shapes will still be in with a lot of emphasis on female curves through low cut neck and back and short skirts to show off beautiful legs.

Favorite materials are flowing and elegant fabrics, like brocade, lace, satin, chiffon. As for colors, bright colors and black are dominant as they can be easily matched with other colors.

Simplicity will reign and this year's excessive details will slowly be forgotten.