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.

BNI president director Gatot M Suwondo said that aside from being one of the creative industry’s creations, most batik makers in Indonesia comprises business people from the small-and-medium enterprises, whom BNI is targeting through its partnership program.

The growing attention to batik will contribute greatly to Indonesia’s exports, Gatot said.

“I feel very proud to be able to help promote products from small-scale businesses to the international sphere through the help of the designers,” he added.

— Photos by
JP/Hyginus Hardoyo

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