Inna mixes it up with new styles

Inna mixes it up with new styles

By Agni Amorita

JAKARTA (JP): Designer Inna Rachma puts a lot of confidence in
her kebaya collections.

She is one of the pioneers of kebaya (long sleeved Indonesian
traditional blouses) design, mixing them with capri trousers or
denim slacks back in the 1997 before the big names of Indonesian
fashion had spread kebaya-mania among local women.

Viewers expected her to explore kebaya design even further for
her latest collection shown at the Borobudur Hotel last Tuesday.

Instead, Inna surprised the audience with a series of
appealing ball gowns and during the show she only presented two
kebayas combined with a long blue pleated skirts.

The gowns -- consisting of two, three or even four layers of
tulle -- stole the show, thanks to their bright colors and
delicate ornamentation made from fully embroidered bustiers.

Sold at between Rp 1.5 to Rp 6 million per piece, the ball-
gown collections are Inna's new highlight.

"We have quite a large and faithful expatriate clientele who
keep asking for beautiful cocktail party outfits," said Mariana,
the marketing manager at Inna Rachma's boutique.

The increasing demand for party gowns has inspired her to
create simple yet elegant ball gowns and other party dresses.

"But our local buyers still order the kebaya dresses," added
Mariana.

Inna Rachma's kebaya are mostly sold at Danarhadi outlets with
ethnic colors such as green and brown plus a matching or
sometimes shockingly colored long skirt.

Her trademark is flower embroidery -- mostly featuring
chrysanthemum and roses. The handmade kebaya is sold at between
Rp 900,000 and Rp 3 million per set. As displayed in the fashion
show, Inna Rachma has also expanded her business into male
attire. But for now she has only created simple shirts.

The show, organized by Jalin Communication which is owned by
famous designer Samuel Wattimena, featured a dozen kebaya and a
series of Inna Rachma's party dresses, plus another kebaya range
from Kristiati and some working attire from Weeta Djemat. The two
are considered newcomers to the local fashion scene.

Weeta, the daughter of famous lawyer Gani Djemat, has just
returned home after obtaining her degree in fashion in Los
Angeles. She left her career making big garments in America which
she began nine years ago to start her own label "Faith Avenue" at
home. "It was a crisis that made me chose that name," said Weeta
who also started her psychology degree this year in Jakarta.

Kristiati launched her Kristiati Batik label about four years
ago. Kristiati, who only designs batik kebaya and male shirts,
has a handful of helpers from Garut (West Java) and Central Java.
Kristiati employs various Hokokai batik motives in her silk batik
collections.

Melanie Solagratia, Public Relations Officer at the Hotel
Borobudur Jakarta, said that her hotel's monthly fashion show is
aimed at introducing new labels to local fashion society.