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The Hague welcomes 'Wastra Indonesia' fashion show
This Wastra Indonesia exhibition is the biggest in Europe in the last three years.
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Take your pick: Indigo-dyed batik clothing on linen by Kana. (JP/A. Kurniawan Ulung)
A
n event promoting Indonesian fashion called Wastra (traditional fabric) Indonesia fashion show was recently held in Rond de Grote Kerk 12, The Hague from July 25 to 26.
Themed 'Indigo Batik from Yogya to the World' and 'Traces of Gianyar Hertiage City', the event invited 320 world representatives and attended by batik lovers, fashion experts, socialites, export-import entrepreneurs and others.
This Wastra Indonesia exhibition is the biggest in Europe in the last three years.
One of the visitors named Luca admired Indonesian batik because he thought it is unique and beautiful, “My grandfather used to live in Indonesia and wear batik. I would like to know more about it, which is why I came here. [Batik] has so many different motifs and colors,” said Luca.
Read also: Saving the planet with slow fashion
Another visitor, Lara Peteers, who works in batik export –import business was also impressed by the wastra nusantara and it leads them to work with companies in Indonesia producing different kinds of wastra-based products such as clothing, bags, wallets with a design that fits the European taste.
“I see the beautiful design of wastra Indonesia and I would like for batik and tenun ikat to be worn by the people of the world,” said Lara.
“Indonesian textile is not just from Yogya, there are also tenun ikat, songket from Padang, tenun Sumba, pinawatengan from Manado and others. These fabrics are what we are introducing to the world,” said education and cultural attaché at the Embassy of Republic of Indonesia in the Hague, Bambang Hari.
Apart from the exhibition, there was a fashion show themed Natural Indigo Batik for All Season showcasing the works of four Balinese designers such as Harry Rahmat Darajat (Ai Syarif), Tjokorda Gede Abinanda Sukawati, Pande Putu Wijana, and Bintang Miraafriningrum and two designers from Yogyakarta namely Mayasari Sekarlaranti and Goet Puspa.
Prior the event, a wastra seminar titled Indonesia Traditional Textile as a Key for Environmental Sustainable Fashion was held on July 24 at the Indonesian embassy in The Hague.
Read also: Kampung Laweyan develops green eco batik
The event was divided into two sessions, the first session tells the story about Indigo, a type of plant used as a natural dye for batik. The session was presented by Laretna T.Adishakti and Mayasari Sekarlaranti who also explained about Yogya as the world’s batik city and the process of making the natural blue color in batik.
The second session was called 'Traces of Gianyar Arts & Woven Fabric' which discussed Gianyar weaving and presented by Catrini Kubontubuh and Prof. I Wayan Dibia. The event also showcased endek (Balinese textile), songket and batik fashion show and a dance performance.
Delf, one of the attendees was lucky that they could participate in this event where they learned about different kinds of wastra, “There’s a special motive that can only be worn by certain people and for a special ceremony, this is very interesting,” said Delf. (asw)
