More than 10 years after its recognition, National Batik Day is still celebrated all over the country in order to create awareness for the Indonesian art form. Showing its pride and admiration for batik, Asia Pacific Rayon (APR) held a virtual show and live shopping event called Batik Reimagined.

Batik Reimagined was streamed live from Jakarta Fashion Hub (JFH), a collaborative space for fashion enthusiasts who create original works under the spirit of “Everything Indonesia” and with the support of APR.

For Batik Reimagined, the integrated viscose-rayon producer cooperated with 13 Indonesia-based brands, including Ali Charisma, Sofie, Bateeq, Restu Anggraini and EUREKA, and came up with a range of designs created using sustainably resourced fabrics.

Each brand presented modern interpretations of batik, applied in fashion pieces such as cropped tops, outerwear, pants and dresses reminiscent of those worn during holidays at an island resort. Using APR’s viscose rayon as the key material for their collections, the designers showcased vibrant collections with intricate details and several editorial standouts.

APR head of corporate communications, Djarot Handoko, said in a statement that the use of viscose rayon – which is a sustainable material manufactured in Indonesia – was in line with the campaign “Everything Indonesia” carried out by JFH.

“[We] support the creativity of [Indonesian] designers and fashion labels in using textile material produced from the natural resources in Indonesia, especially viscose rayon manufactured by APR,” said Djarot.

In addition to being environmentally friendly, viscose rayon has a smooth texture, which makes it comfortable to wear every day. It also has the capability of optimally absorbing colorings, which was evident in the colorful pieces presented at the fashion show.

Restu Anggraini, one of the 13 designers who presented a collection at Batik Reimagined, said that she had chosen the “orange peel” viscose because it had a luxurious feel.

“[I use] batik motifs to accentuate the look, for instance, at the sides of the pants or as an obi belt. All pieces are made of viscose,” said Restu, adding that the texture of APR fabrics could also be tailored according to the designer’s needs.

Streamed on Instagram Live under the @jakartafashionhub handle, Batik Reimagined was concluded with a live shopping session that followed the fashion show. An adaptation of the “see now, buy now” approach, the session was presented by a duet of entertainers, Patricia Gouw and Bayu Oktara, who also shared styling tips in between offering and promoting the collections.

Most collections exude a youthful spirit, with many being wearable for modest fashion followers.

As a virtual event, Batik Reimagined gave viewers quite a detailed look of each collection, with an upbeat music background that gave viewers the feeling of being transported to the regular fashion shows that existed before the pandemic.

While the show was hosted live, the presentation of collections was pre-recorded at Jakarta Fashion Hub, giving a glimpse of different areas in the hub, such as its coworking space, workshop area, photo studio, gallery and mini store.

The good news is that JFH is open to the public, especially catering to fashion enthusiasts and business owners who aspire to materialize their creativity. During the pandemic, the venue imposes strict health and safety protocols to ensure the safety of visitors.

JFH is located inside the Tanoto Foundation Building on Jl. Telukbetung No. 33, Central Jakarta.

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