Titled Pringgasela after a village in East Lombok, the collection, for men and women, was presented at Kembang Goela restaurant in South Jakarta on Wednesday.

Pringgasela village is said to live in harmony with nature, while maintaining its traditional Sumba woven fabric heritage. Among the various types of the woven fabric is the sundawa that Denny chose to use to create his new Balijava collection.

It is said that Sumba women are required to be able to weave fabric for their future husbands, and as a means to help support her family. The fact that the making of the fabric takes a long time and is an elaborate process adds value to the fabric, and fabrics originating from Pringgasela village have been named part of Indonesia’s intangible cultural heritage in 2018 by the directorate of cultural heritage and diplomacy.

Using East Lombok’s sundawa woven fabric, Denny created a collection that he categorized as deluxe ready-to-wear and premium pieces, which is synonymous with the Balijava label. Through the 45-look collection, he expressed his concern for and commitment to the preservation of the archipelago’s textile heritage.

Sundawa woven fabric can be identified by its signature stripe motifs, inspired by rivers in East Lombok. It uses natural coloring, sourced from sejaraman trees (for the beige color), Indigofera tinctoria leaves (for indigo) and mimosa flowers and leaves (light green).

Denny juxtaposed different motifs in several looks, while combining others with embroidery for cocktail and evening wear pieces.

Tops, dresses, coats and vests featuring the sundawa fabric and motifs were presented in layered looks, indicating how each piece was easy to mix and match. Jewelry from E.P.A jewelry by designer Eliana Putri Antonio completed most of the looks presented.

Read also: Sapto Djojokartiko whispers contemporary spells into his spring/summer 2020 collection

The presentation of the collection, also supported by Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation, aimed to promote traditional Indonesian textiles.

Renitasari Adrian, program director of the foundation, said that it was the love for Indonesian traditional textile that reunited Bakti Budaya Djarum with Denny Wirawan, to present the textiles with a modern touch in order to attract different generations, especially youth.

“It is necessary to promote the fabric in our fashion runway, so that it can be loved and become widely known in its own homeland,” said Renitasari.

Previously, the foundation supported Balijava in the presentation of the Batik Kudus collection in 2015. (mut)

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