During the three-day festival, 25 designers and labels presented their latest ready-to-wear collections in a series of fashion presentations livestreamed on JFW’s YouTube and Instagram accounts. 

However, instead of relying on fashion movies that have been de rigueur for most digital events, the organizers of RFF elected to hold physical shows at Senayan City mall in South Jakarta, albeit with no audience in attendance. 

In lieu of JFW’s iconic fashion tent, the event took place indoors, in a more low-key setting with an industrial feel.

Mask is the new black: This season's must have accessory can be color-coded to one's outfit, as with Raegitazoro's version. (JP/Josa Lukman)

RFF 2020 opened with a fashion parade featuring designs from names like Cotton Ink, Calla and Ai Syarif 1965.

Calla elevated simple, straight-cut silhouettes with vibrant and loud prints. 

Opting for matching tops and bottoms as sets, the pieces can be worn as-is for a casual yet dressy summer look or styled with solid colors for those not feeling too bold.

Also on the relaxed yet structured vibe was Cotton Ink, which presented patterns that deliberately clashed for one particular look that blended together well enough without overpowering one or the other. 

Classic black-and-white is a surefire hit for the modern crowd, though softer earth tones are also available to balance out the color palette.

On the other hand, SVH was all modern menswear: crisp, slightly oversized silhouettes and solid colors. 

A standout style was the opening look, which styled a matching jacket and trousers in solid blue over a black mock-neck shirt, providing ample room for further styling with accessories.

Batik Chic (Courtesy of RFF/Josa Lukman)

Raegitazoro also highlighted streetwear for men, this time utilizing the season’s must-have accessory: the facemask.

A color-coded black and red patterned mask provided a point of style for a look with solid colors, while a simple black mask blended almost seamlessly with a fluorescent yellow turtleneck and a red asymmetric jacket. 

Perhaps the mask most versatile was the one adorned with a neon yellow line, which can be styled with almost any look with its matching harness.

Bruneian singer Jaz made an appearance at the opening show, performing to a mostly empty room and the audience at home as models walked and strutted around him. 

Like a proper JFW event, alumni from its annual Fashion Design Competition program also made the list of featured designers.

Studio 1319 – helmed by Bima Wicaksana, winner of the 2019 LPM Menswear – went East Asian minimalist with a mostly black collection. Even white was limited to several key items – an oversized shirt tucked asymmetrically for styling purposes, a basic yet versatile t-shirt, or a pair of sneakers used as a contrast statement piece.

Modern tradition: Eureka's indigo-dyed batik hints at a seaside getaway, a forbidden fantasy in a time of a global health crisis. (JP/Josa Lukman)

Meanwhile, Eureka by LPM 2019 winner Frederika Cynthia swung the other side with tropical styling reminiscent of a beachside stroll. Batik and tie dye harmonized a calming blue and white color scheme, providing a vision of natural elements through indigo.

Interestingly, both designers noted that their designs were rooted to the present situation, designed as a response to the ongoing pandemic. 

Bima pointed to a more somber mood with a mostly black palette, with the easy cut and relaxed fits meant to provide ease for activities around the house. 

On the flip side, Frederika highlighted the need for mindfulness when the news can overwhelm one’s thoughts, hence the vacation vibes of the collection treated as a possible “happy place” outside of soul-crushing statistics.

Throughout the festival, other major names from the fashion industry like Rinda Salmun and Ivan Gunawan also showcased their designs, while a presentation from WIlsen Willim and Mel Ahyar closed RFF.

Sprightly: Calla opts for straight-cut silhouettes enlivened by bold, vibrant prints. (JP/Josa Lukman)

Along with the fashion shows, RFF 2020 also featured discussions and performances not unlike JFW’s usual lineup. 

As it was broadcast online, no invitations were required and the recording will be kept online for posterity, though viewers can still dress up to watch the shows on their screens if they so desire.

In a press conference broadcast online, JFW director Lenni Tedja said the festival was intended to form part of a lineup of events leading up to JFW, which is still scheduled for October.

“We at JFW always encourage designers to continue creating and being positive even though we are in a pandemic, and [RFF] is one of the platforms we created for this purpose. I believe this is a proper fashion show that is broadcast live online,” she said.

“We wanted to entertain those staying at home instead of an attending audience, so it’s a new challenge for Jakarta Fashion Week.” (ste)