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Cross-cultural Jakarta textile installation promotes stronger diplomatic ties
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Cultural heritage: Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (center) poses with participants at the launch of the Heritage Diplomacy program at the ASHTA District 8 shopping mall in South Jakarta on Aug. 11. (Courtesy of Karpet Merah Jagantara /Courtesy of Karpet Merah Jagantara )
A
cross-cultural fashion exhibition with a diplomatic bent called Karpet Merah Jagantara, which brought new combinations of traditional local fabrics and international forms to South Jakarta, concluded on Tuesday.
The event was organized by the Indonesian Cultural Heritage Foundation as part of the Heritage Diplomacy program and was held at the ASHTA District 8 shopping mall.
"Through Heritage Diplomacy, we can learn that cultures can be a bridge between Indonesia and other countries. I also gave a gift to every designer who was part of the installation," said Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in her speech at the launch of the exhibition on Aug. 11.
The installation showcased designs inspired by traditional textiles from South Korea, Japan, India, China, Mexico, Poland, Kenya and Spain.
Each design made use of traditional Indonesian fabrics, including weaving and batik styles from Sumba, West Sumatra, South Sulawesi and Lampung, as well as Cirebon in West Java and Surakarta and Pekalongan in Central Java.
Notable Indonesian designers such as Didiet Maulana, Sebastian Gunawan and Didi Budiardjo contributed to the collection.
Mexican Ambassador to Indonesia Armando G. Avarez also attended the exhibition.
"It's amazing to witness the dress inspired by Mexican women by the Indonesian designers," Armando said.
Yanti Airlangga, general chair and founder of the Indonesian Cultural Heritage Foundation, said the event aimed to introduce and preserve Indonesian heritage and build strong diplomatic relations.
"Hopefully, through this cultural heritage event, Indonesia can have stronger diplomatic relations with other countries," Yanti said.
