In line with increasing awareness on the importance of green products,
Indonesia has been aggressively promoting its batik products made
according to the “Go Green” concept.
One of a number of
promotional efforts was carried out late last month in New York City on
the sidelines of Indonesia’s high profile campaign to attract US
investors through Indonesia Investment Day at the New York Stock
Exchange.
The investment campaign itself was aimed at providing
US investors with first-hand information on how Indonesia, which has
been billed as the fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia and the
second-
fastest in Asia, is progressing and moving forward.
The
event was attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who delivered
an update on Indonesia’s economic development, and also relevant
ministers handling economic portfolios, who spoke about Indonesian
investment opportunities and the economic climate.
The promotion
of the eco-friendly products was held during two separate dinners in
conjunction with the investment campaign. Fashion shows took place
during the dinners, featuring two noted Indonesian fashion designers —
Tuty Cholid and Denny Wirawan.
During a series of events at one
of the dinners, which was also attended by President Yudhoyono and First
Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao as well as
other dignitaries, American models strutted the runways, displaying
traditional attire designed by both Tuty and Denny.
As one of the leading figures in Indonesia’s fashion world, Tuty presented enchanting kebayas — traditional Indonesian ladies’
attire, which were transformed into modern and lavish dresses, thereby crossing cultural boundaries.
Tuty,
who is also an avid instructor and workshop facilitator for empowering
small and medium-scale enterprises backed by state-owned PT Bank Negara
Indonesia (BNI), was confident that with their natural and green
fabrics. She said kebayas have definitely become the taste of today’s
generations.
Tuty mixes and matches glorious golden colors of
silk fabrics with soft and elastic mulberry silks with support material
weaving from Lenan Pearl of Silk, Kawanida Batik and Tuty Cholid Weaving
and Batik.
Tuty’s endeavors have given her a positive response
from both US customers and fashion circles as several of them contacted
her after the show. “I come here with something different from existing
products for the segmented classes. I offer a specific boutique concept
with handmade products which are produced not in mass ... it deals not
only with garments but also branding,” said Tuty, who has been working
with numerous clients and fashion show events in France, Britain,
Russia, Thailand and Japan.
Denny, who has won several
prestigious awards in the fashion world, presented his “Fashion Go
Green” collection themed: Swarnadwipa, the Island of God, which features
South Sumatran traditional women’s fabrics by Nirmala Sari Songket.
Denny’s products have been made through the application of natural dyes
made of leaves, flowers and seeds abundantly discovered in Indonesia.
Bringing
out the best of the collection, Denny, who has contributed his fine
talents to designing for top celebrities in Indonesia, combines fabric
with other materials produced from pineapple fibers and raw silk.
Denny’s collection offers a wide range of exquisite clothing, from
mix-and-match daywear and simple cocktail wear to elegant and
sophisticated evening dresses.
“As my eco-friendly collection is
handmade, it requires a longer process. I’m trying to figure out how to
do this in a more practical way,” Denny said.
“My big goal is to
show my products at New York Fashion Week,” said Denny, who has joined
several international fashion shows in Australia, China, Dubai, India,
Italy and the US and also several fashion weeks in Jakarta, Singapore,
Kuala Lumpur and Paris.
The fashion shows in New York were made
possible through the sponsorship of the BNI, which has helped promote
batik as Indonesia’s promising creation, inheritance and the nation’s
identity to the international stage.
