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Danar Hadi and Yayasan Jantung ‘go red for women’ at Puspa Maya Fashion Show
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Managing director of Batik Danar Hadi, Diana Santosa, proudly stands at center stage as the Puspa Maya Fashion Show closes on March 16. (Amanda Karina Dwipayana)
The fashion industry has been a bulwark against societal efforts to divide the gendering of mind and one’s self-expression.
It is definitely a medium that allows the undressing colors of our intangible soul.
Indonesia, especially, represents one of the most noble garment and textiles producers in the world, ranking sixth in global suppliers according to the International Labor Organization.
When visiting Indonesia, it is impossible to not catch sight of the batik industry. From ornamenting textiles to ink-patterning one’s skin, batik paints itself as one of the country’s most iconic art forms and has proven to be a timeless part of Indonesian identity.
In commemoration of one of Indonesia's proudest pieces of cultural heritage is the Batik Danar Hadi annual fashion show.
And this year is remarkably heartening.
Danar Hadi rehumanizes the Indonesian fashion industry in collaboration with Yayasan Jantung Indonesia to build awareness of women’s battles with cardiovascular disease and heart failure. As their first solidarity red batik collection, Go Red For Women stood as the title of this event.
Although the fashion industry is dominated by women workers, ironically, they are still often underrepresented. However, managing director of Danar Hadi, Diana Santosa, was able to turn the spotlight toward women.
“Puspa Maya”, a phrase of Sanskrit origin meaning “floret illusion”, became the visual theme for Go Red For Women. According to Diana, the theme itself presents the opportunity of caricaturing the beauty of fauna by orienting flowers and batik ornamental patterns in one look.
Taking spirit from Diskoria’s C.H.R.I.S.Y.E, the crowd harmonized in rhythmic claps and curving smiles as the models walked the runway with rainbows of red, freeing their steps to waltz in disco fever.
In alignment with revitalizing women’s visibility, Danar Hadi’s philosophy of red brings weight.
“The color red signifies the human heart and further symbolizes the flow of blood being pumped throughout our body as it is needed,” opened Diana on Thursday, taking an example from the selendang (scarf) that twirled in machete motifs, bleeding red down the runway.
Diana noted how the emphasized redness further communicated the value of fresh blood as it “ventilates how we can protect our cardiovascular condition ultimately for women, as we become vulnerable and prone to health threats when reaching the average age of menopause.”
Aside from preserving Indonesia’s untouchable heritage while combining ever-changing trends, Danar Hadi is admired for its representation of women in the workplace.
“Most of our contributors are women,” Diana noted. “All of our workshops that create batik halus are all represented by women.”
And the consistent fineness of the fabrics showcased during the event “were all made possible because of the lead taken by women [...] and that actually is the ultimate strength of women”, she added.
According to Diana, it is also worth mentioning that instilling women’s empowerment should support for gender equality as well.
“[Women’s empowerment] doesn’t mean there’s the need for women to outshine men, but instead encourages the strengthening of women’s skills. [...] So in my personal opinion, it is not appropriate to compare men to women. ”
Exclusivity is also a signature for Danar Hadi. With its consistency in creating personalized batik that can be worn by all ages across various demographics, it redefines artistic expression in the wardrobe.
I myself have experienced an unwavering sense of liberation when wearing Danar Hadi. On the very day of the celebration of Go Red for Women, it was with deep privilege that I experienced Danar Hadi’s sincerelycrafted clothing.
We can all agree that granting liberation to oneself and experiencing a sense of belonging is the bare minimum that every human deserves to feel for as long as they are alive. Therefore, expressive mediums such as those provided by the fashion industry are crucial in giving voice to the voiceless.
The voice of the voiceless that has long been women’s. The voice of the voiceless that has once muted Indonesian women too.
With 56 years of being one of Indonesia’s cultural legacy, Danar Hadi has proven itself once again to be more ready than ever in facing global transitions, in facing the spherical limit of time, in facing the need of the human nation.
“As Danar Hadi, we are not collectors but producers,” said Diana Santosa.
