Sun, 15 Oct 2000

Local designers to hold annual fashion show

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Fashion Designers Council (IPMI) will stage its 15th annual trend show from Oct. 16 to Oct. 20 at the Bidakara complex in South Jakarta.

Luminaire Trend IPMI 2001 will feature about 1,000 new designs by IPMI members as well as nonmembers.

Twelve IPMI designers -- Dandy Burhan, Stephanus Hamy, Oscar Lawalata, Valentino Napitupulu, Sutanto, Denny Wirawan, Era M. Sukamto, Liliana Lim, Dipa, Tuty Cholid, Hutama Adhi and Syah Reza Muslim -- will present their collections individually. Each designer will show 72 designs. The event also will feature a presentation by Prajudi boutique, a bridal show, an Indonesian Label Show and the creations of the Young Designer Contest (IYDC) finalists.

"Every designer will present their collections in a set so that the fashion society will understand their inspirations and concepts, the trends for the coming year," said IPMI chairwoman Sjamsidar Isa.

While organizers praise the event for focusing on young designers, it is a disappointment the public will not be able to see the new creations of veteran designers like Ghea Panggabean, Biyan, Carmanita, Itang Yunaz, Susan Budihardjo and Sebastian Gunawan.

Designer Didi Budihardjo, the chairman of the organizing committee, who himself will not be taking part in the show, said that participating designers would present elaborate, sophisticated, modern and glamorous fashion styles, predicted to be the trend for 2001.

Prajudi's boutique, for example, will use glamourous colors for its collection, Neo East, which is influenced by Asian styles.

Era M. Sukamto, who owns the Urban Crew label, will present her chic casual style, a favorite among hip young people.

The IYDC show will feature the works of the five finalists who are selected from 57 participants. The finalists -- Ari Yandy, Denny Herlianto, Karra, Monika Weber and Atri -- will present 10 designs each based on their respective themes: Twister, Tropical Forest, Touch of Sibar, Kites and Batik Pesisir.

The winner will represent Indonesia at the Asian Young Fashion Designers Contest in Singapore next year, according to Dandy Burhan, the contest organizer.

Last April, Mia Muliana Jap was sent to the Asian Young Fashion Designers Contest, competing against representatives of the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and China. Mia used bright colors such as soft pink, yellow almond, olive green and gasoline blue for her gowns, made from denim, wool and the fibrous parts of pineapple. Her unique collection won applause from the audience, but she did not win as she was judged to have failed to stick to the contest's theme, Asia's Tropical Styles.

The organizers hope this year's trend show will be better than previous years. "One day this event will be a promotion for all the programs linked with the fashion industry," said Sjamsidar Isa. (Sri Ramadani)