Indonesian fashion label Purana teamed up with Yogyakarta-based artist duo Tempa for its 2020 Spring/Summer collection.

Known for its easy, versatile pieces, Purana unveiled its latest designs in a runway show held at the Shangri-La Hotel in South Jakarta.

Thirty looks highlighted the recent yet ubiquitous trend of lounge outfits, matching ensembles that straddle the line between stay-at-home comfort clothes and activewear, or athleisure.

Collaboration: The 2020 Spring/Summer presentation featured a line of lounge sets with patterns designed by Yogyakarta artist duo Tempa, along with jewelry by Amero. (Courtesy of Purana/-)

With the blurring of dress codes and the rise of self-care movements, you’d be forgiven for thinking that lounge sets are glorified pajamas. But the biggest names in fashion have elevated dressed-down dressing to be the new dressing up, with lush fabrics and eye-catching patterns.

Purana’s offerings are no different: loose, airy silhouettes that are more “casual cool” rather than “couch potato”, which was certainly elevated by Tempa’s patterns of the cosmic, the floral and the traditional.

Comprised of Rara Kuastra and Putud Utama, the duo said the patterns they created tell a story of balance between living creatures and the universe.

Two different patterns are used on the lounge sets. The daytime sets, based in white, open the show with sunrays, the traditional Javanese teko blirik and birds swooping through the sky. By contrast, nighttime sets in black have the moon and stars surrounding floral patterns in a more subdued tone.

Relaxed: Silhouettes are quintessentially Purana, with loose fits for better sizing across the board and multiple styling options. (Courtesy of Purana/-)

“The presence of the moon and stars represents the stillness in accepting the coming and going of things,” the duo said.

Both patterns are available in Purana’s lounge sets but are also seen in other garment styles, like T-shirt-dresses, a jumpsuit and a sleeveless top with matching trousers.

The two patterns are a sort of collection within a collection, with other patterns and hues available that are designed in-house.

Nonita Respati, Purana’s creative director, said collaborations with artists have always been part of the brand’s approach to its annual Spring/Summer releases.

“We both want to strengthen our respective fan bases. We both also wanted to adapt Indonesia’s natural beauty into something that can be appreciated by the younger generation, as Purana has always aimed to capture a younger market as well,” she said.

Tempa’s patterns, Nonita said, can be an alternative for those who might have reservations about wearing the brand’s batik patterns in a casual setting.

The batik patterns were developed with artisans in Pekalongan, Central Java. Featuring Indonesian flora like bananas and ginkgo leaves, the patterns run a bit more contemporary than traditional batik and might be mistaken for a simple floral pattern print at a glance.

Sensuous: One fabric highlighted in the collection is cupro, which is claimed to mimic the texture of silk while being more sustainable. (Courtesy of Purana/-)

For the batik pieces, Purana utilizes a natural fiber known as cupro, which is claimed to mimic the texture of silk but is more ecofriendly as it does not involve the killing silkworms.

True to the claimed silky texture, the label’s cuts are the sort of breezy silhouettes you’d associate with a tropical summer.

A sleeveless asymmetric maxi top in bamboo-patterned blue cupro was paired with a pair of structured yet loose trousers in dark grey; a thin rope belt cinching the waist provided a hint of tropical sensuality, highlighting the curve yet not overtly parading it.

Purana’s multistyling items also showed their versatility in their presentation, turning a sleeveless midi-length dress into a strapless maxi layered one under billowy, semi-sheer outerwear that encapsulates a beachside mood.

Those not into patterns should not fret, as the collection also provides several solid-colored pieces, like a maxi top in dark grey featuring an asymmetrical hem that draped and swayed as the models breezed past.

For the presentation, Purana collaborated with jewelry brand Amero, which showcased its Fillo line featuring a flexible mechanism for easy wear.

Both brands are set to collaborate again in September at the Fashion Division Paris Fashion Show, during Paris Fashion Week’s 2021 Spring/Summer season. (ste)