Oceanic: The collection features ocean-inspired patterns rendered on eco-friendly fabrics.

Indonesian label Sejauh Mata Memandang is getting in gear for plastic-free oceans and polyester-free wardrobes with its latest collection launch-cum-exhibition.

Life in plastic is fantastic, for Barbie at least. For everyone else on Earth, the amount of plastic waste on the planet will soon reach breaking point, and no one wins in that situation.

Earlier this month, a pregnant sperm whale washed up on the pristine sands of Sardinia, Italy, having ingested approximately 22 kilograms of plastic. In March, a Cuvier beaked whale washed up in the Philippines, with over 40 kg of plastic found in its stomach. Indonesia too is not immune, as a dead sperm whale was found in Sulawesi in November with more than 1,000 pieces of plastic weighing around 6 kg.

The state of our oceans is looking bleak, and environmental organizations are quickly spreading awareness to the public about the dangers of single-use plastic.

Joining them is an ally from the fashion industry, Sejauh Mata Memandang. Primarily known for its “slow fashion” approach, the label has decided to launch its latest ocean-inspired collection with an exhibition highlighting the encroaching danger presented by plastic waste.

Titled “Laut Kita” (Our Seas), the exhibition was held in collaboration with environmental group Indonesia Plastic Bag Diet Movement (GIDKP) and was launched on April 22, coinciding with Earth Day. Located in Plaza Indonesia, visitors will be able to tour the exhibition until June 16, after which the plastic waste displayed will be packed up and recycled.

Sejauh Mata Memandang founder and creative director Chitra Subyakto said that she was spurred into action after reading news highlighting the dire state Indonesia’s oceans were in.

“The problem is really serious, but people like us who live in cities might not be aware of how bad it is. Mother Nature has given us so much through our oceans: food, scenic views. I think it’s time for us to love Earth more and do something before our descendants feel the brunt of our actions,” Chitra said.

Chitra said she felt the urge to create the exhibition upon reading an article claiming that by 2050, there would be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

She explained: “2050 isn’t that far away. Maybe I won’t be around by then, but the younger generation will be there, and I feel that it is egoistic to not do something about it.”

“Laut Kita” is an interactive exhibition similar to Sejauh Mata Memandang’s “Timun Mas” collection-exhibition in November last year, where visitors can walk through the exhibition before arriving at a pop-up shop selling the brand’s latest collection.

Exhibition artistic director Felix Tjahyadi said the concept for “Laut Kita” was based on his own experiences in learning about the dangers of plastic waste.

Trashy: Sejauh Mata Memandang creative director Chitra Subyakto said the exhibition was borne out of her concern for the ocean.

“We want to convey the ocean’s situation, from the beauty of Indonesia’s natural environment, to the facts of what is happening and our contributions from our daily lives. After presenting the facts, we want viewers to experience being around mounds of garbage that are very hard to recycle,” Felix said.

The exhibition is divided into six areas, with the first area highlighting Indonesia’s environment. Visitors can view a collage of photos and videos accompanied by narration provided by the brand’s collaborators: actors Dian Sastrowardoyo and Nicholas Saputra, director Jay Subyakto and photographer Jez O’Hare.

Going farther inside, visitors will be presented with facts and data surrounding single-use plastic waste, set to a backdrop of music and narration done by musician Tulus. 

Alongside the infographics, a notable feature of this area is found in the stacked cubes filled with plastic waste. Curiously, the packaging of the waste marks it as foreign, likely imported from developed countries around the world.

Based on Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data, Indonesia imported 283,152 tons of plastic waste in 2018, up 141 percent from the previous year.

Continuing on, visitors will find an installation meant to depict the impact of plastic waste on marine life. Using discarded plastic bottles and leftover fabric from Sejauh Mata Memandang’s production, the most striking part of the installation would likely be the colorful fabric fish, which have their bellies open to reveal overflowing plastic.

Decorative: The exhibition features plastic bottles used as decoration, which will be packed up and recycled after the exhibition.

Following this installation is an area that provides information on environmental organizations that have been working to turns things around. The area also features a video, shot by prominent photographer and artist Davy Linggar, showing him alongside other artists and activists making a plea to people to reduce their single-use plastic usage for the sake of the environment.

At the end of the hall, visitors can see solutions they can apply to reduce their plastic usage. As if to make a point, the wall also displays the infamous plastic waste recently found on Sendang Biru Beach in Malang, East Java: an Indomie instant noodle packet purported to be 19 years old that still retains its structure despite being subjected to saltwater and UV rays.

In the last area before the pop-up shop, visitors can find a pledge wall to take pictures and write their own pledges. A dedicated hashtag, #sejauhmanakamupeduli (#howmuchdoyoucare), is also available for easy sharing.

Get involved: One area of the exhibition features a wall filled with a list of environmental organizations.

In the “Laut Kita” pop-up shop, even the wares are environmentally minded. Chitra said the collection of the same name featured organic fabrics like cotton and Tencel — a brand of fabric made from wood pulp.

“It’s like, when you’re bored with your clothes, you can just plant it in the soil, and it will biodegrade in the span of six months to a year instead of ending up in Bantar Gebang,” Chitra said, referring to the ill-famed landfill on the outskirts of Jakarta.

Ranging from clothing to accessories, the collection features three distinct patterns — ombaklaut (sea wave), bunga laut (sea flower) and bunga samudra (ocean flower), rendered on silkscreen prints, embroidery and handmade and stamped batik.  

With a push for a greener wardrobe and lifestyle, Sejauh Mata Memandang’s collection-slash-exhibition is a step in the right direction for environmentalism, but it remains to be seen if visitors will take the lesson to heart or just end up taking another selfie.

— Photos courtesy of Sejauh Mata Memandang