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ndeed, the “hip” is always changing, which would perhaps make it hard for the selection and trend-forecasting processes.

“We don’t choose things based on whether it sells, we try to look for an element that makes a thing ‘nice’. Sometimes we argue, but most of the time we don’t, so taste is almost instinctual,” said Chris Kerrigan.

Although the focus is mostly on fashion, The Goods Dept also promotes subcultural events such as the monthly screenings of short independent movies that are open to the public. The schedules can also be accessed at The Goods Dept’s website. The movie screenings are presented by Future Shorts, an international film festival, managed here by the well-known documentary filmmaker David Arnold, known for his surfing documentary Mengejar Ombak.

The Goods Dept founders, Anton and Chris also admitted that social media, especially the Internet, played an important role. Social media such as Twitter and fashion and music blogs, for example, are only some examples where people obtain new exciting ideas which leads to the creation of this kind of subcultural market.

“I think social media plays an important role in the adaptation of culture. Nowadays, things are discovered quicker. What is subculture now will become mainstream in the future and something else will replace what was then considered subculture,” said Anton.

As a result, not only are hip places known to be where unique products can be found, but also where the young art enthusiasts, as well as many other youth, are found. They go to these sorts of places not only to shop or meet others whose interests are mutual, but also because these places often provide information on upcoming subcultural events such as music events, movie screenings and local fashion shows.

A culture is always mixed with other cultures and that is how it expands and develops, which also contributes to the Indonesian culture as a whole, making it able to compete globally. Therefore, aside from benefiting from meeting other art enthusiasts and shopaholics, these places also give rise to other enthusiasts to pursue their interests even further, which in turn will perhaps benefit the Indonesian art industry as a whole.

Safira Mardjono

The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post