Fresh touch:  A pink strapless outer is paired with white pants for sweet look.

Unlike regular fashion shows that are often accompanied by loud music, Sapto Djojokartiko'€™s recent show was quiet but intense.

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The harmonious tunes from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) allowed the audience to fully absorb the message of Sapto Djojokartiko'€™s new collection, called '€œLabadiu'€, in the four-minute presentation.

Labadiu was a term used by Claudius Ptolemy, a Greco-Egyptian geographer and astronomer, to describe Java in the second century.

With that idea, Sapto reinterpreted the look of Javanese aristocrats during that time, seen from the eyes of a Greco-Egyptian.

'€œThere are some historical values in the designs. I'€™m trying to reinterpret how a Greco-Egyptian would have seen the classic Javanese look,'€ Sapto told The Jakarta Post after the show.

Sapto'€™s show was a part of '€œA Day in Fashion'€, an event hosted by the magazine Harper'€™s Bazaar Indonesia at The Dharmawangsa, South Jakarta.

In the show, Sapto presented 24 modern looks with authentic Javanese details and accents.

As the choir began to sing East Java'€™s traditional song '€œLuk Luk Lumbu'€, a model appeared in a black dress full of embellishments that made crinkly sounds every time she walked.

Sapto previous collections were dominated by nude color palettes. This time, however, Sapto played with darker colors. His designs were colored in mushroom colors, blue-gray and heritage blue and black.

The dresses came with sabrina, halter and round necklines that were accentuated with classic batik patterns such as Srikuncara, a batik motif that represents new love.

Sapto'€™s signature Penara motifs were also spotted on several pieces.

'€œPenara has become our signature. The demand for it is still high, so we try to incorporate it into our new designs. We will use it until no one wants it anymore,'€ Sapto said.

His exploration with beads and sequins gave texture to the clothes while also balancing the modest styles of the models with their loose chignon hair and flat shoes.

Apart from Sapto, '€œA Day in Fashion'€ also featured mini collections from Ardistia Dwiasri of Ardistia New York, Auguste Soesastro and Jeffry Tan.

Ardistia presented six outfits that were inspired by female perseverance, symbolized by a blue hummingbird.

'€œI was lucky. I once stayed and worked in New York and met many tenacious women who work really hard for their lives,'€ she said.

'€œSo like the hummingbird, this collection is inspired by and dedicated to such women. Women who work hard to explore what they really want in life.'€

The collection included a blue train dress with slits in the side combined with a black-cropped cape jacket, a see-through maxi top matched with two-tone culottes, a blue blazer and a white strapless top with white boot-cut pants.

Meanwhile, Auguste showcased his predominantly red-colored mini collection. Auguste'€™s collection was designed to represent the strength of women.

He said that the muse behind his design was a smart, bold woman who was also a game changer.

'€œThis is the first time I have showcased so much red in my designs. And it'€™s quite easy to transform that idea into the strong line of the designs,'€ the 34-year-old designer said.

A long red dress that featured an array of small buttons on the chest generated a classy look and feeling when paired with metallic cuff bracelets.

Auguste'€™s signature tail dress worn by Dominique Diyose highlighted his bold collection.

The fashion event also featured Sejauh Mata Memandang by Chitra Subiyakto. She translated the aerial view of the ocean'€™s surface into batik fabrics that featured geometrical patterns tied and belted onto the body.

'€œA Day in Fashion'€ came to an end after Ghea Panggabean presented her latest collection.  

'€” Photo by JP/Wendra Ajistyatama

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