Featured Article: Biyan Spring Summer 2015

In Asia, Seruni (in Bahasa Indonesia) or Chrysanthemum is often believed as the symbol of life and immortality. Based on that spirit, prominent Indonesian fashion designer Biyan Wanaatmadja presented his latest collection on Tuesday evening, June 17th 2014 at Hotel Mulia Senayan, Jakarta which was inspired from the fusion of Japanese art and culture and the tribal nuance of Sumba-Indonesia.

On the first sequence, silk flowing dresses in soft muted colors like cloudy blue, blush pink and mint green with chrysanthemum and paintings-like prints were dominating the runway. The serene feeling was completed with the occasional crane and floral appliqué. We love how Biyan perceives his women as feminine, pure/innocent, stylish and at the same time they are also strong, cool, open minded and both equally balance and beautiful.

Darker colour palette like black, midnight blue and aubergine purple took over the second sequence, where you can drooling over those heavily embellished top and jacket/coat with droopy shoulder. The intricately authentic Indonesian traditional Sumba figurative inspired ikat were seen in this sequence. Tribal essence on some of the beading details gave a nice surprise in the collection. The trapeze and A-line silhouettes made recurring appearances with various placements of ruffles (hemline, neckline and sleeve).

Other than the crane appliqué and floral print, the Japanese inspirations were elaborated even more in the form of loose shapes, kimono collar, and Samurai-inspired pants. Not to mention the post-runway-show-selfie-backdrop-ready bamboo forest where the models came out to strutting down the runway. We were excited when we see his favourite models such as Hege Wollan (the show opener), Paula Verhoeven, Izabel Jahja, Laura Basuki and Nayla Alatas walked the runway in sky-high wedges on wooden floor with sleek Samurai chignon. White highlights adorned models’ eyelids and some of them wearing beautiful handmade Japanese-inspired necklaces made out of horns, feathers, shells, cowries, crystals and semi-precious stones.

Gorgeous sheer evening dresses with divine details closed the final sequence of the evening. If you look closely, you will appreciate the hard-work and craftsmanship from those who created the beautiful dresses. The magnificent embroideries and embellishments were superb! The juxtaposition of bright-light and dark-intense, pure and strong, feminine and masculine in Seruni collection were a total feast to the eye.

Read our review of his last year’s collection “The Radiance Postcard” and 2013 “Foliage” collection by clicking the links. Visit our Facebook page to view MORE runway images of “Seruni“.

Please do not reproduce the images without permission. Images must be accompanied by a working link to this post.

All images are courtesy of art8amby.

Featured Article: IKAT Indonesia by Didiet Maulana 2013-2014

2013 has been a busy year so far for Didiet Maulana. He recently showed the first ever bridal line, released the 2013 campaign for his Mentari collection, and we heard that he’s going to launch a jewelry line later this year.

Last week, Didiet Maulana presented “Romansa Gala”, a 35-look latest collection from his growing IKAT Indonesia label in conjunction with the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy S4 at Grand Hyatt Jakarta‘s Ballroom. Consistent with the use of Indonesia’s traditionally exquisite fabrics, he paired the conventional look with some conservative shape like below-the-knees sheath dress and adding some chic 1920s flapper details such as long pearl necklaces, headpiece and bias cut shapes. Soft color palettes like peach, olive green and pink dominated the rather casual first sequence. For evening choices, IKAT Indonesia offered luxe satin suits in dark green for men (which we lusting over it!) with ikat details on the shawl or long jacket, and elegant black dresses with sparkly sequins scattered all over.

Last but not least, we’d like to congratulate Didiet Maulana on his new collection and we are looking forward to see more from him in the future!

You can enjoy the complete runway images on our Facebook fanpage, here.

Please do not reproduce images without permission. All images are courtesy of art8amby.

Featured Article: Senayan City Fashion Nation 2013 Opening Event

The annually held Senayan City Fashion Nation has reached its seventh edition this year and it’s bigger than ever! Last night, the opening event was held at the shopping centre’s atrium with a fashion show from Ari Seputra, Rusly Tjohnardi and Mel Ahyar. In the glamorous event, Senayan City also proudly announced that the prominent shopping centre will be the new home for Jakarta Fashion Week that will be held later this October.

Violinist Mayla Fayza serenading the guests as she opened the event in a Rusly Tjohnardi dress (she also closed the finale wearing a dress from Mel Ahyar) and riding the new Audi to the elegant black and gold stage. After she performed, the host of the evening, the ever lovely Nadya Hutagalung, come up and greets the excited guests wearing a gorgeous beaded strapless dress from Biyan. The top 3 finalists from the first cycle of Asia’s Next Top Model came to the stage afterwards to present The Style Maker Awards to model Paula Verhoeven, singer Andien, socialite Fitria Yusuf, and actor Rio Dewanto respectively as the recipient from each category.

Ari Seputra was the first designer to present the collection. Advina Ratnaningsih opened his fashion show in a sleeveless wrap dress with white hemline. The collection used the mostly the color of the season, black and white. Ari Seputra combined it with mullet shapes, loose yet edgy fittings and sporty details. Rusly Tjohnardi’s latest dresses and gown were mostly made out of tulle with his soft muted colors with a dash of blue, gold and green. Looks like that he was inspired by the Indian princess as the models strutting the catwalk (Antie Damayanti opened) in intricate headpiece that surprisingly fits the collection. Last but not least on the opening event of Fashion Nation we got Mel Ahyar. With her signature column silhouette, she managed to give interesting variety of long dresses with the used of fabrics including taffeta, sheer panels, textured fabrics, tulle and lace as soon as Sarah Azka walked the runway as first face.

We leave you with some of the runway images, special pics of Asia’s Next Top Model finalists and winner— the humble Stephanie Retuya from Philippines, the bubbly Kate Ma from Taiwan, the elegant Jessica Amornkuldilok from Thailand, and the leggy Sofia Wakabayashi from Japan (who’s represented by Perfect 10 Management in Jakarta)—and model off duty style with Ayu Faradilla and Dea Nabila. Browse through our Facebook fanpage for MORE exclusive images from the fabulous event!

The Seventh Edition of Fashion Nation will be held until April 21st 2013 at Senayan City, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Senayan City Fashion Nation 2013 campaign image courtesy of Sapto Djojokartiko.

Please do not reproduce any images without permission. The images are all courtesy of art8amby.

Featured Article: Indonesia Fashion Week 2013 – Rudy Chandra

Parisian chic with Indonesian twist. Perhaps that’s the perfect words to describes the latest collection from Rudy Chandra, that was presented last Thursday during Indonesia Fashion Week 2013, at Jakarta Convention Center.

The designer used lots of chiffon crepe, silk satin, jacquard, gabardine, batik from Pekalongan, and combined it with 40s and 50s silhouettes, such as A-line skirts and dresses + chic details like gloves and playful ponytails. Peplum accents, pipe trousers, and pencil skirts were also shown quite oftenly in the collection. He completed the looks with ropes embroideries (symbolizing that women can be soft, vulnerable yet strong and powerful at the same time), to make it even more distinctive.

With the use of bronze, champagne, brown, and black as the main color palettes (with few looks in blue), Rudy Chandra managed to created a glamour, elegant, yet feminine collection, as intended.

Browse through the gallery in our Facebook fanpage to see the complete runway images from the fashion show. You can also read our previously posted reviews of Jeanny Ang Couture and Kraton by Auguste Soesastro.

Please do not reproduce any images without permission. All images are courtesy of art8amby.

World Batik Summit 2011

The Batik facade

My green cased Blackberry and the id pass

The traditional dancers in rehearsal. Image by Armadina

Batik, a cloth that traditionally uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique, has been associated with Indonesia since a very long time. But not until The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has officially recognized batik as an Indonesian heritage and cultural treasure in October 02nd 2009. Even though the exquisite fabrics can also be found in other countries, but now more people are aware that batik are originally from Indonesia.

With the new designated title from UNESCO two years ago as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, batik is even more popular these days. Every Friday, here in Indonesia, most of people are wearing batik to the offices and work places to celebrate our lovely national heritage.

I got a wonderful opportunity to covering the Cultural Evening Performance during World Batik Summmit 2011 in Jakarta Convention Center couple of days ago. That night, a fashion show by 10 fashion designers from 4 countries was held in front of the high profile guests and invitations as the main event.

With more than 30 models, Carmanita, Ramli, Chossy Latu, Danar Hadi, Parang Kencana, Sebastian Gunawan and Anne Avantie from Indonesia are presenting their finest batik designs along with fellow designers from China (Lu Kun), Malaysia (Deanoor) and Japan (Kaoru).

Dea Nabila and Prinka Cassy

The handsome Nikola at SUM

Bulan at Platinum

L Men of The Year 2011 Runner Up, Adijaya, during rehearsal

Supermodel Asia Pacific 2011 winner, Bunga Jelita during rehearsal

Mister International 2009 top 15 finalists from Indonesia, Holly Feriston and Dominique Agisca Diyose. Image by Andreas Yudhi

Another fun part during the event was of course the rehearsal and backstage visit where I can snapped the models before and after the make up. The models for the fashion show are lovely and wonderful mixed of new faces and established ones.

There’s senior catwalker Dessy Mulasari and Nien (who opened the show), new face Hege at Look Models, top names such as Julia Jamil, Teuku Zacky, Katya Talanova, Drina Ciputra, Whulandary Herman, Ilmira, Advina Ratnaningsih, Dhining, Dominique Agisca Diyose, Advina Ratnaningsih, Selvi Rivera, Bunga Jelita, Renata Kusmanto, Hendy Bramantyo, Christina, Kimmy Jayanti and Indonesia‘s ‘IT‘ model of the moment, Prinka Cassy.

Feel free to visit and enjoy our Facebook photo album to view MORE exclusive backstage images of the models during World Batik Summit 2011.

Opening dancers rehearsal

Hendy Bramantyo snapped backstage

The beautiful Whulandary Herman

Larina at Damn! Inc. with the amazing Temple miniature behind her

The make up that night was done by Sariayu team and it was soft smokey eyes with a dash of bright red lips and dramatic eyelashes to create the sexy yet beautiful feeling just like Polina at Damn! Inc. shown above.

Some of the models are sporting a sophisticated little bun with blunt bangs, some of them are having a simple slicked back low ponytail and the others are sporting the very exquisite ‘sanggul‘ or chignon (shown by Ilmira and Mungky) to completed the look by Indonesia‘s foremost Kebaya designer, Mrs. Anne Avantie.

World Batik Summit 2011 exhibition will be held until tomorrow, October 02nd in Jakarta Convention Center. So, if you want to view the amazing displays of various types of batik in one place, this is really the place you want to be. Just like the tagline “Indonesia : Global Home of Batik”

A very special thanks to Tara Makmun, Panca Makmun, Andreas Yudhi and Armadina.

Amby.

Mrs. Anne Avantie and her beloved mother, Mrs. Amie Indriati

The elegant Mungky

Merry at JIM and Dea Nabila backstage after the hair do

The always fun Kimmy Jayanti

The flawless Renata Kusmanto

The energetic dancers

Our friend, fellow blogger Armadina and photographer Andreas Yudhi

It girl of the moment, Prinka Cassy in backstage during final run through

The boys (from top left clockwise : Nico Christianto, Wesley, Jacoeb, Nikola, Holly Feriston, Adijaya, J Ryan, Hendy Bramantyo and Fernando) backstage before the show. Image by Andreas Yudhi

The beautiful flower arrangement by Bellish

Tia strike a pose in Danar Hadi

Ilmira before the finale

Christina smiles backstage with the intricate head piece

J Ryan in his second look

Hege at Look Models with Katya Talanova and Julia Jamil, both at Damn! Inc. Image by Armadina

Table arrangement with white orchids from Bellish