Ornate Sumatran finery a national legacy

Ornate Sumatran finery a national legacy

JAKARTA (JP): Model-strutting was nowhere to be seen on the
catwalk at a fashion show of traditional Sumatran costumes in
Jakarta last weekend.

The show, which paraded eight Sumatran dance costumes, was
part of a traditional fashion event, My Beautiful Indonesia,
being staged at Plaza Indonesia's La Moda Cafe in Central Jakarta
from April 15 through May 19.

The event is held in conjunction of the Year of Arts and
Culture 1998 to promote public awareness of Indonesia's rich
heritage.

Each of the Sumatran costumes at the show was rented from
Pondok Busana Lestari traditional costume rental, featuring
different songket (embroidered fabric) designs.

The traditional costume from Lampung, for example, featured a
white brocade top with long sleeves and triangular songket
designs in gold, blue, red and black.

Pondok Busana Lestari's manager, Iriene Prinka, said the
contrast of white on colorful kebaya signified purity and
brightness for the people of Lampung.

The costume for the Gending Sriwijaya dance of Palembang,
South Sumatra, had songket designs of small red flowers.

With the songket being handmade, prices for the clothes are
steep.

"A Palembang songket could cost from Rp 400,000 to Rp 10
million," Iriene said.

Renting an outfit costs from Rp 50,000 to Rp 100,000 a day.

An Acehnese welcome dance, Saman, preceded the fashion show
and was performed by Pipit, Iriene's daughter, who runs the
Sanggar Lestari private traditional dance school.

Traditional costumes of Bali and Kalimantan will be staged
April 25, and those of Java and Sulawesi on May 9.

Traditional music of differing regions will be played
throughout the event.

With musicians hired to play music of differing regions on the
first floor of the plaza, traditional music buffs can have their
fill throughout the duration of the event.

Sumatran music was played from April 17 to April 19. Strollers
at the plaza can enjoy Balinese music from April 24 to April 26,
Kalimantan music from May 1 to May 3, Javanese music from May 8
to May 10 and Sulawesi music from May 15 to May 17. (ylt)