Held on Thursday at Istora Senayan, South Jakarta, a fashion show featuring the collection consisted of 70 looks for men and women, from casual to formal attire.

Cultural evolution and artificial intelligence (AI) were among Sapto’s inspirations for the collection. He channeled them through design, patterns and accessories that have modern and street-style elements, such as robot and architecture patterns. He also used stark, contemporary color palettes, including frost, black and clay with a touch of bright colors.

“I want the collection to be futuristic, but still organic with Indonesian culture on it,” Sapto said during a press conference after the fashion show. He believed that the organic touch would soften the futuristic elements in his works.

He used different techniques in the collection, including embroidery and patchwork with various materials to create certain dimension and texture. “I used cotton and fleece, but if it’s more formal, I applied more intense embroidery and patchwork,” said Sapto.

“I want people [who wear my design] to look cool, effortless and feel comfortable with themselves,” Sapto said. “Since the beginning, I’ve wanted this collection to be more casual, so even if it’s evening dress, I didn’t use stretch material that clings into the body. It’s more relaxing.”

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Interestingly, Sapto opted to hold the show in a semi-outdoor corridor at Istora Senayan with skyscrapers and garden as the background since he believed the place was memorable and historical. His decision was made long before the 2018 Asian Games was held.

Shadtoto Prasetio, the show’s director, described the challenges in the preparation. “The most challenging thing is the unpredictable weather, but Sapto was very confident,” Shadtoto said. “Some dresses are also too long, while the models had to climb the stairs to reach the runway.”

Moreover, the show was also held at 10 a.m. because the natural lighting was perceived to be optimal without leaving the guests sweating.

The Spring/Summer 2019 presentation was Sapto’s first seasonal show after previously holding more private shows to selected audiences. It also marked his 10^thyear in the fashion industry. He believed it was the right time as his works had been well-received by the public.

Sapto aims to be consistent in holding seasonal shows, especially for Fall/Winter 2019. “It’s a little bit ambitious, but we’ll do our best,” he said, adding that he was not targeting specific countries to market his collections. (kes)