Beyond performative: Is he a threat or just a man with a mirror?

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You can’t thrift your way out of overconsumption

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Streetwise: A model showcases a gray denim ensemble from Fas Delman, a streetwear collection by Indonesian designer Vincent Mikhael of Denimitup and French-Senegalese designer Etienne Diop of Tareet, created through Pintu's Accelerator program.

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‘Pintu’ opens a new runway between France and Indonesia

Through residencies and collaborations, designers are transforming cultural exchange into contemporary collections.

3 weeks ago

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More than love: The real costs of owning a dog

Owners, shelter workers and foster volunteers say responsible pet ownership takes more than love, while social media is helping some dogs pay their own way. ...

2 months ago

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A seat at a plastic table: Sungai Watch innovates sustainable design

The environmental group's river cleanup efforts are feeding a growing circular design movement, turning discarded plastic into furniture while pushing for systemic action on waste management. ...

2 months ago

The Latest

Crunch room: Customers work on their writing projects on April 21 at the Manuscript Writing Cafe in Tokyo, which has been designed for writers who are working on meeting their deadlines.

Culture

Coffee, tea and nagging at Japan's anti-procrastination cafe

Writers facing deadlines head to Tokyo's Manuscript Writing Cafe with the understanding that they can't leave until their work is done. Oh, and there's prodding thrown in to make sure they buckle down and finish.

4 years ago

Members of Vila Isabel samba school perform during the second night of Rio's Carnival parade at the Sambadrome Marques de Sapucai in Rio de Janeiro on April 24, 2022.

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'So much joy': Brazil holds first carnival since Covid

Rio de Janeiro's carnival exploded back to life with the first famed samba school parades since Covid-19 started devastating Brazil.

4 years ago

New penthouses: Nighttime view of a terraced residential district on a bank of the Pothong River in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 14.

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Penthouses in North Korea are mainly for the unfortunate few

For many people in many countries, living in a penthouse is the dream. In North Korea? Not so much.

4 years ago

A prisoner feeds two horses at the 'Horses for Hope' Equine centre at the Castlerea Prison, in Co Roscommon Ireland, on April 20, 2022.

Culture

Horses give Irish prisoners hope of a stable life

For the men held at the medium-security jail in County Roscommon, Ireland, horses provide an opportunity to learn practical skills -- and develop more compassion through their work.

4 years ago

This photo taken on April 2, 2022 shows a staff member using a craft gun to create patterns on stretched fabric at a tufting workshop in Beijing.

Culture

Tuft Love: Young Chinese weave away stress with crafts

Using a craft gun to shoot yarn through a fabric screen, Nora Peng puts the finishing touches on a rug in the shape of a corgi's bottom -- the perfect stress-relieving hobby.

4 years ago

Smoking problem: Indonesian youths smoking cigerettes at a park in Jakarta, West Java, on May 28, 2010. (AFP/Romeo Gacad)

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Can Indonesian youth win the “David Vs. Goliath” fight against "Big Tobacco"?

A growing number of organizations led by young Indonesians are taking tobacco companies to task. But it has not been an easy fight.

4 years ago

On the catwalk: A model wears a casual outfit created by Ayu Dyah Andari and fashion entrepreneur Sarah Sofyan. (JP/Sylviana Hamdani)

Culture

From sexy designs to neo-classical hijab fashion

Designer Ayu Dyah Andari dedicated over a decade to the fashion industry before finally making it big with her debut solo show.

4 years ago

Saudi model Ziad al-Mesfer is pictured in Tahliya street in the capital Riyadh, on April 9, 2022. Mesfer has built a massive social media following while blazing a trail for the handful of Saudi male models brave enough to don garments widely seen as appropriate for women only, thereby flouting their country's famously rigid gender norms.

Culture

The male model testing gender norms in a changing Saudi Arabia

Passers-by began sneaking pictures on their mobiles merely minutes after Mesfer emerged from his white luxury car onto the cobbled sidewalks of a high-end cafe district in Riyadh, his stylist and photographer in tow.

4 years ago

Hip design: Some thrift shops actually look like a regular distro, unlike the stalls common when the trend was not as booming. (JP/OHMG)

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Indonesia remains a paradise for thrift shoppers

The country’s many thrift stores and centers means ‘cheaper’ is always an option. Now, modern versions are popping up online.

4 years ago

Sharing knowledge: Dhimas translates English materials into Indonesian for members of Gao Ying Indonesia to read, and has been an archer since 2017. (Courtesy of Dhimas Rajavy Shofiullah)

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Learning Ming dynasty military archery skills with Gao Ying Indonesia

Archery enthusiasts bring to life voices from the past, from the distant land of Ming dynasty China.

4 years ago

Brazilian military personnel take part in the Viking 22 exercises at the Planalto Military Command in Brasília, on April 5, 2022.

Culture

Not only Viagra: Brazil military also bought penis implants, says lawmaker

After revelations that the Brazilian military had bought Viagra pills for its troops, a lawmaker claimed Tuesday it had also acquired 60 penile implants.

4 years ago

Catwalk power: Luana Melgueiro da Silva of the Amazon’s Baré tribe, presents a creation on Saturday during a fashion exhibition in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil. The exhibition is the country’s first to feature indigenous designers, stylists and models.

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Brazil’s first indigenous fashion show ‘a form of resistance’

Proudly donning majestic feathered headdresses, models sing an ode to the rain while a makeup artist draws geometric patterns on their faces, arms and thighs in preparation for Brazil's first ever indigenous fashion show.

4 years ago

Bitter or sweet: Black coffee, coffee mixed with sweetened condensed milk, as well as toast filled with srikaya jam are typical menu items at a kopitiam. (JP/Tonggo Simangunsong)

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'Kopitiam': from Chinese trader hubs to national hangouts

Breakfast and coffee – kopitiam (coffee shops) have become hangout joints, but their historical context in Indonesia is far deeper.

4 years ago

Culture

Wearstatuquo on the fashion industry’s status quo

Three best friends built a brand upon their mutual love for minimalist resort and casual wear. In an industry where things are constantly evolving, Wearstatuquo maintains its own status quo.

4 years ago

Young target: Four children (two of whom are smoking) pose in front of a mural created by Chusni Thamrin as part of a 1,000 murals parade in Indonesia's major cities. (Courtesy of Yayasan Lentera Anak)

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Endless smoke: Cigarette campaigns persistently target Indonesia’s youth

Cigarette ads target young Indonesians with youthful imageries and slogans, as proper advertising law remains inadequately enforced.

4 years ago

Coming home: Several Indonesians living abroad share their excitement to be home for Ramadan and Idul Fitri. (Unsplash/Nizar Kauza)

Culture

Indonesian diaspora excited to get home for Ramadan, Idul Fitri

With the quarantine easing, Ramadan and Idul Fitri at home with family has become a reality.

4 years ago

Rustic ambiance: The Grand Deluxe room at the Orient Hotel Jakarta features an open concept bathtub with a full floor-to-ceiling window with a view of the capital city's skyline. (Courtesy of The Orient Hotel Jakarta)

Culture

The Orient Hotel Jakarta: A rustic weekend escape wrapped in luxury

Incorporating Indonesian heritage with eclectic designs, The Orient offers a relaxing staycation in the city.

4 years ago

Instagram discovery: Nigerian-Indonesian model Ekene Dilichukwu Edeh, who goes by Ken Chukwu, was the face of Jakarta Fashion Week (JFW) 2022, a year after he was discovered from a photograph of himself posing in front of the JFW 2021 campaign banner featuring Rizal Rama. (Jakarta Fashion Week/Zaky Akbar)

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Male modeling: Between tough competition and social stigma

While the men's fashion segment is growing and the international scene has yet to "discover" the uniqueness of Indonesian looks , male models still have slim pickings and struggle with stigma.

4 years ago

Renowned brands: Although many strong local fragrance brands have emerged, Rinaldi Fraudier remains faithful to several global brands. (Courtesy of Rinaldi Fraudier)

Culture

Intense perfume fandom keeps industry thriving in Indonesia

Perfume has a longstanding position in the luxury domain. But the landscape is shifting as local industries enter the world of fragrance, opening it up to a wider market.

4 years ago

Competing: The BOOM Esports team plays in the Gamers Galaxy tournament in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. (Courtesy of BOOM Esports)

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No underdog: Time to acknowledge great force of Indonesian e-sports

The world has seen Indonesian e-sports players win championships. The only thing left is for other Indonesians to see its greatness as they do other sports.

4 years ago

To ponder: The popularity of after-school tutoring has raised questions about the country’s standard education system. (Unsplash/Courtesy of Tim Mossholder)

Culture

Does Indonesia’s after-school tutoring culture indicate a failure of standard education?

Many Indonesian students attend after-school tutoring sessions to get a better grasp of the material they are learning, but the success of these tutoring agencies raises questions about the state of education in the country.

4 years ago

Coming soon: Gran Melia Lombok sits on the hillside of Torok Bay in Lombok, overlooking the Indian Ocean. The hotel is set to open in 2024. (Courtesy of Gran Melia Lombok)

Culture

Gran Meliá Lombok eco-sensitive resort set to open in 2024

Invest Islands, the leading Asian real estate investment company, unveiled the design of Gran Meliá Lombok to the press on Wednesday at Gran Meliá Jakarta. The hotel is managed by Meliá Hotels International and is set to launch in 2024.

4 years ago

Suspect trend: Indonesian regulators say binary options trading is closer to gambling than real investment. Recently, the practice has made waves as influencers promote scam trading platforms. (Unsplash/Burak Kebapci)

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Former Binomo affiliates talk temptations, tribulations of investment scams

Former representatives of the platform share stories of desire and regret after getting clients (and themselves) roped into a gambling-like scheme.

4 years ago

From the ground: Bee Me started with some YouTube videos, beeswax and a kitchen pan. (Courtesy of Sheyla Taradia Habib)

Culture

Mind your beeswax: How a small skincare business got moms buzzing with excitement

Started with a kitchen pot and beeswax sourced from local farms in Lampung, Bee Me now has a national presence with its au naturel honey-based mother and kids skincare products.

4 years ago

Wedded bliss: John Shipton (center left), the father of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, walks with his son's bride Stella Moris (center) as they leave Belmarsh Prison in London, where Assange and Moris were married on Wednesday.

Culture

WikiLeaks’ Assange weds in prison

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his fiancee Stella Moris were married on Wednesday at the high-security London prison where he is being held during his extradition case.

4 years ago

Camera subjects: Aan Aminah (front) and Diandra Aprillian act as photoshoot models in Widi Asari's performance. (Courtesy of Widi Asari)

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Fashion designer highlights plight of Indonesian workers

Shedding light on the damaging effects of fast fashion on both the environment and human beings, a theatrical performance has put Indonesian workers upfront.

4 years ago

Tunisian men lead camels on March 23, 2022 at the port of La Goulette in Tunis as Tunisia welcomes the first cruise from Europe, with more than 800 tourists on board, after a stop recorded since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Culture

First cruise ship in three years docks in Tunisia

A cruise ship docked in a Tunisian port for the first time since 2019, carrying over 700 passengers and rare good news for tourism operators battered by the pandemic.

4 years ago

Acknowledgement: In 2018, one of Chandra Surhartono’s designs won a competition held by Blackpink. (Personal Collection/Courtesy of Chandra Surhartono)

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K-pop costumes more than just replicating design

Costume makers catering to K-pop dance cover artists are steadily gaining attention and growing business.

4 years ago

Refuge: Some Indonesian tech workers say that working abroad has provided them with protection from sexism, poor working conditions and oppressive corporate cultures. (Unsplash/Scott Graham)

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Why many of Indonesia's best tech minds are staying abroad

Less sexism, less hustle and better prospects are some of the reasons why skilled tech professionals have not heeded the President’s pleas to return to Indonesia and spearhead its digital revolution.

4 years ago