Fashion City. Large. New
The World Fashion Organization (WFO) is interested to build fashion city in Serpong, Tangerang with investment reach US$2 billion.
Directorate General of SME will bring together WFO with the Association of Indonesian Fashion Designer and Entrepreneurs (APPMI) to realize the investment.
“WFO is interested to invest in Indonesia worth US$1 billion-US$2 billion to build fashion city in BSD, Tangerang,” said SME Directorate General Euis Saedah.
Euis explained WFO need to team up with Indonesia’s fashion entrepreneurs to build fashion city. The meeting between WFO and APPMI is expected to be held next year.
Previously, Chairman of APPMI Dina Madiani said Indonesia’s fashion industry development will conduct gradually.
The development focus of fashion industry in 2012 is to improve quality and domestic material product which is aimed to increase domestic market share in 2014.
Therefore, Indonesia fashion industry is targeted can enter in Asian market by 2018 and global market in 2015.
The Ministry of Industry is also optimistic SME to grow by 7% in 2012 and 8% in 2013 in line with increasing food and fashion industry in Indonesia.
Source : Bisnis.Com
Mendengar dengan Warna
By Fahmiranti Widazulfia
Saya masih ingat, saat saya berusia 9 tahun, yang saya lakukan hanya pergi ke sekolah, bermain, mewarna, dan cita-cita yang saya miliki adalah menjadi seorang dokter. Tentu sebagian dari Anda juga memiliki cita-cita yang sama dan berpikir bahwa cita-cita itu dapat tercapai saat dewasa kelak.
Tapi tidak bagi Rafi, yang sudah meraih cita-citanya di usia 9 tahun dengan menggelar fashion show untuk koleksi busana rancangannya sendiri. Sungguh luar biasa!
Saat mengandung, sang ibu, Shinta Ayu Handayani terserang virus rubela yang akan berakibat buruk bagi janin yang dikandungnya. Namun, kedua orang tuanya tetap mempertahankan Rafi karena mereka yakin, bukan manusia yang menentukan kehidupan manusia lainnya.
Rafi pun lahir dalam kondisi tuna rungu yang membuat pertumbuhan Rafi terganggu. Namun selalu ada cara untuk membuat hidup Rafi lebih berwarna. Beruntungnya, ia tumbuh di dalam sebuah keluarga yang harmonis dan suportif.
Rafi kecil yang suka bertanya akan banyak hal, suatu hari bertanya tentang apa sesungguhnya suara itu. Ibunya sempat merasa bingung, sampai akhirnya ia menjawab bahwa suara itu sama seperti warna. Ada merah, hijau, dan warna lainnya.
Tidak berhenti sampai di situ, Rafi yang lahir di Jakarta pada Juli 2002 ini tetap mendapatkan pendidikan yang tepat dari orang tuanya. Di usia 2 tahun, Rafi bersekolah di Santi Rama, sekolah untuk anak-anak tuna rungu. Di Santi Rama lah Rafi mulai menggambar. Menariknya, Rafi mengamati karakter Ariel dalam serial “Little Mermaid” yang pernah ia tonton di televisi. Ia lagi-lagi bertanya pada ibunya mengapa putri duyung itu tidak berpakaian seperti perempuan lainnya. Ibunya kembali bingung dan pada akhirnya ia meminta putranya untuk membuatkan pakaian yang bagus untuk karakter itu.
Berawal dari sebuah sketsa baju untuk Ariel itulah, bakat menggambar Rafi mulai tampak. Gambar yang dibuatnya sungguh berbeda dengan gambaran anak-anak seusianya. Dibuatnya sebuah sketsa rompi dan jaket untuk Ariel dan saat ia melihat Ariel di TV sebagai seorang manusia, ia juga membuatkan gaun untuk Ariel.
Semua yang dibuatnya hanya sebatas sketsa yang dibuatnya dengan spidol warna yang ia miliki. Hingga suat saat, bocah yang gemar menghadiri fashion show dan membaca buku-buku fashion ini menuliskan 2 permintaan melalui surat untuk Tuhan. Dalam surat itu, ia menuliskan bahwa ia ingin bias mendengar. Permintaan yang kedua yakni ia ingin membuat pergelaran busana miliknya di hari ulang tahunnya.
Tuhan serasa mendengar permintaan Rafi hingga pada saatnya, di ulang tahunnya yang ke-9 ia menggelar mini show nya dengan kolaborasi bersama desainer ternama Indonesia, Barli Asmara. 7 rancangan miliknya dipamerkan di acara tersebut dan sungguh sebuah pencapaian yang luar biasa dari seorang anak berusia 9 tahun.
Tidak berhenti di situ, seorang pengusaha dan pendiri LC Foundation, Lia Candrasari memberi tawaran pada ibu Rafi untuk mengembangkan bakat yang Rafi miliki. Lia mengenalkannya dengan Nonita Respati dari rumah mode Purana Batik dan Ariani Pradjasaputra dari Aarti untuk aksesori. Ketiganya menghasilkan kolaborasi kuat yang diberi nama PAR. Kolaborasi itu disuguhkan dalam sebuah salah satu perhelatan fashion terbesar di Indonesia, yakni Jakarta Fashion Week 2012 (JFW 2012).
Koleksi busana yang bertajuk “Echoes of Heritage” ini berisi 24 jajaran busana ready-to-wear yang fun dan casual. Tema ini dipilih sesuai visi dari LC Foundation selaku penggagas proyek kolaborasi dan pagelaran ini.
Menggali potensi kebudayaan asli Indonesia dan berbagi untuk bangsa, menjadi misi dalam program besutan Lia Candrasari ini. Sketsa-sketsa goresan Rafi diwujudkan dengan menggunakan material batik karya para pengrajin di Solo, Yogyakarta, Pekalongan, Madura, Rembang, dan berbagai kota penghasil batik lainnya.
Peragaan busana ini hanyalah satu dari banyak impian Rafi yang berhasil terwujud. September lalu, Rafi yang juga penyandang tunarungu akhirnya bisa mendengar melalui operasi telinga kanannya. Operasi ini juga didukung oleh LC Foundation untuk mempersiapkan langkah awal Rafi di ranah mode tanah air. Meski di saat ia mulai bisa mendengar ia panik dan ketakutan dengan suara-suara yang ia dengar, kini ia lebih terbiasa dan segera akan melakukan operasi untuk telinga kirinya.
Melalui koleksi tersebut, Rafi membuktikan bahwa seorang bocah 9 tahun yang juga tunarungu, mampu menghasilkan karya yang tak kalah apiknya dari para desainer dewasa. Jadi, tunggu apa lagi untuk mulai wujudkan mimpimu?
Ehm! Indonesia’s Beauty at the French Riviera
Amid the red carpet glamor and celebrity schmoozing of t he Cannes International Film Festival, actress Dian Sastrowardoyo finds herself with the honor of serving as the face of Indonesia for the first time.
Founded in 1946, Cannes came into being right around the same time that Dian’s homeland gained its independence. Today the festival, named for the French Riviera town that plays host, is one of the international film industry’s marquee annual events.
“It’s become one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world,” said Juliette Derosiaux, audio visual executive of the Institut Francais Indonesia. “Every year, the best movies from all over the world, from all genres, are presented.”
A series of film screenings, master classes and exhibitions are scheduled during the 12-day festival, which wraps up on Sunday. But perhaps the most popular feature is the red carpet processions, in which world-famous celebrities looking their best walk into the Palais des Festivals et des Congres, where the film festival is held.
This year, Dian will share in that limelight. L’Oreal Paris has selected the actress as its first Indonesian brand ambassador to attend the prestigious gathering.
“I feel honored and grateful to have been chosen,” Dian said, beaming.
L’Oreal Paris has been the official makeup partner of the event for 15 years. Every year, L’Oreal invites international brand ambassadors, who are all famous actresses, to the festival.
This year, Dian will attend Cannes along with American actresses Andie MacDowell and Aimee Mullins, Chinese beauty Gong Li, Australian actress Megan Gale and Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor.
“This is a very important chapter, a new chapter in the history of L’Oreal Paris in the Cannes Film Festival,” said Vismay Sharma, president director of L’Oreal Paris Indonesia. “As a tribute to Indonesia as a country and a tribute to the Indonesian market, this year, for the very first time, we invited an Indonesian spokesperson to the Cannes Film Festival.”
Dian is also the first brand ambassador from Southeast Asia to represent L’Oreal at Cannes.
“China, India and Indonesia are countries with the biggest populations in Asia,” said Monika Ardianti Sugiharso, marketing manager of L’Oreal Paris Indonesia. “L’Oreal Paris has agreed that it’s time for Indonesia to have a presence in the international film festival this year.”
The selection process began early this year, with L’Oreal Paris Indonesia forwarding Dian’s profile to its headquarters in Paris.
“Dian has multi-dimensional beauty,” Monika said. “She’s not only beautiful on the outside, but she’s also very talented.”
The 30-year-old film actress started her career as a model, which took off in 1996 after winning Gadis Sampul, a beauty pageant held by Gadis magazine.
It was film director Rudi Soedjarwo who first recognized her acting talents and invited her to star in “Bintang Jatuh” (“Shooting Star”) in 2000. But it was her second movie, “Pasir Berbisik” (“Whispering Sands,” 2001) that catapulted Dian to stardom. The film earned Dian the Best Actress awards at the Deauville Asian Film Festival and the Singapore International Film Festival in 2002.
She also won the title of Best Actress at the Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) in 2004, for her role in the movie “Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?” (“What’s Up With Love?,” 2002) and 2005’s Most Promising Newcomer title at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival in Kuala Lumpur.
“I’ve attended a number of international film festivals before,” Dian said. “But none of them matches the scale of the Cannes Film Festival that I’m about to attend. I’m so thrilled.”
Dian will attend a series of media interviews and cocktail parties over the weekend.
“I’ll be the first one [brand ambassador] from Indonesia in Cannes,” she said. “The reporters will surely ask a lot about Indonesia.”
Dian and her team have been preparing to answer those questions.
“I have to be prepared to answer their questions about the current issues on Indonesia, such as gender equality and poverty alleviation,” she said.
Dian will also appear in the most anticipated event of the festival, the closing ceremony, where the coveted Palme d’Or is awarded to the international film industry’s best.
How has Dian prepared for the big event?
“I have to look my best,” she said.
That has meant a strict beauty regime for more than a month prior to Dian’s departure for France.
“No matter how tired I am at night, I have to clean up my face and diligently apply the night cream,” she said. “Soft and supple facial skin is very important for the perfect look.”
Famous American makeup artist William Norris Brasfield, also known as Billy B., will do Dian’s makeup.
Billy B. is one of the most sought-after makeup artists in the world. Among his loyal clientele are top names in the international music industry, including Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Mary J. Blige.
During the film festival, Dian will show off the latest makeup collection from L’Oreal, “Cannes Electric.” The new palette is dominated by neon-bright colors, such as fuchsia, red and orange.
“The colors are perfect for Dian’s light brown skin,” L’Oreal Paris Indonesia makeup artist Adi Adrian said.
The dresses that Dian wears will also be under the spotlight over the course of the week.
For her media interviews in Cannes, Dian will wear an off-shoulder cocktail dress by top Indonesian fashion designer Sebastian Gunawan.
“He [Sebastian] said that he was inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s dresses in the 1950s,” Dian said.
The A-line taffeta dress will be enhanced with a handwoven shawl from Bali.
On awards night, Dian will wear an evening gown by haute couture designer Eddy Betty.
“It’s such a privilege for me to design a dress for the red carpet moment at Cannes,” Eddy said. “I’m both anxious and thrilled. The dress has to be excellent. All eyes will be on it.”
Eddy’s creation was inspired by Indonesian dodotan, or a long piece of batik wrapped around the body and secured with a knot, usually worn during traditional Javanese ceremonies. His one-shoulder dress has ornate floral embellishments on the bodice and draperies cascading down the lower front of the skirt. It is embellished with French Chantilly lace in various hues of orange.
“I tie-dyed it myself,” Eddy said. “I think orange goes very well with Dian’s beautiful skin color.”
For the after-party, Dian will wear designer Didit Hediprasetyo’s silver long dress, which is made of handwoven songket from South Sumatra. “It’ll be very elegant,” Dian said.
Yet for Dian, her appearance at Cannes is about more than just looking good and scoring publicity.
“I see it as an opportunity to learn and expand my knowledge and experience in the film industry,” she said. “Hopefully, I can use [both] to contribute to the Indonesian film industry.”
Indonesia Fashion Week Spotlights Local Flair
[The Jakarta Globe] The Jakarta Convention Center was a sea of color this weekend. More than 400 Indonesian fashion brands and 200 designers showcased their latest collections at the JCC during the first Indonesia Fashion Week.
“This is spectacular,” said veteran fashion designer Ghea Sukarya Panggabean. “It feels as if I were actually in New York or Paris for a pret-a-porter event tonight. The booths are neatly arranged and the [fashion] shows are all exciting and well-managed.”
Indonesia Fashion Week, which ran from Thursday to Sunday, is a trade event featuring ready-to-wear fashion, shoes and accessories by local designers and small-to-medium enterprises.
The event went from idea to reality thanks to the collaboration between the Indonesia Fashion Designers Association (Appmi) and six government ministries.
“This is a very important event, both for the fashion industry and the creative economy,” the coordinating minister for the economy, Hatta Rajasa, said in his opening speech at IFW on Thursday.
“We fully support this program and the ambition to establish Indonesia as one of the premiere fashion destinations in the world.”
The minister of trade, Gita Wirjawan, said he hoped the event would inspire more collaborations and open new markets for the country’s fashion designers.
“IFW provides an opportunity for all stakeholders in the Indonesian fashion industry to meet and interact,” he said. “Hopefully, this opportunity will start new collaborations and open new distribution lines in Indonesia and abroad.”
During IFW, the exhibition halls at the convention center were divided into seven zones: Muslim wear, ready-to-wear deluxe, wedding attire, ready-to-wear medium class, children’s wear, accessories and textiles. Most collections featured batik and tenun, or traditional handwoven textiles.
Hue Biabi, a group of housewives and weavers from the village of Anin in East Nusa Tenggara, showcased a rich variety of scarves and shawls made of lotis, a traditional handwoven textile from their home province. Lotis is sought after for its intricate animal and floral motifs in vibrant colors.
“We’re very excited,” said Kaci Taloen, a weaver from the Hue Biabi group. “This is the very first time we have visited Jakarta and our merchandise is selling well.”
During the exhibition, the lotis scarves and shawls were sold for Rp 150,000 to Rp 1,500,000 ($17 to $165), depending on the size and intricacy of the design.
A series of fashion shows also highlighted IFW 2012. On Thursday, Stella Rissa presented her latest fashion collection, titled Inner, for her luxurious pret-a-porter label, Stellarissa .
“Outer beauty is merely a bonus,” the 25-year-old designer said.
“A woman’s inner qualities, which include her personality, intelligence and knowledge, should shine through her physique and clothing.”
Stella’s collection featured semi-transparent trousers made of silk organdy, which were paired with a long, wide-shouldered black jacket. “They make a woman look sexy, without being vulgar,” she said.
Fashion designer Auguste Soesastro debuted his second line of ready-to-wear clothing, Kromo, on Thursday. Auguste presented daily office fashions and classic evening gowns in basic colors, and the collection retained the designer’s signature style of solid structure and quiet elegance.
“My outfits are all modest and very practical,” the 29-year-old said. “They’re intended for modern Indonesian women who are always on the go.”
Auguste’s sleek and quiet designs have attracted the attention of the creme-de-la-creme in New York since he launched his Kraton collection there in 2009.
New York-based Indonesian designer Ardistia Dwiasri presented her spring and summer 2012 collection, Contour Fluidity, which was inspired by Italian architect and furniture designer Carlo Mollino. The collection boasts layered jackets, body-wrapping blouses, structured dresses and jumpsuits in creamy colors.
“Indonesia has lots of resources,” Ardistia said. “Our fashion designers are very talented. I believe it’s time for us to go international. Through IFW, we can all collaborate and enter the global market.”
Senior fashion designer Carmanita also presented her spring and summer 2012 collection, Cross Culture. The collection was the result of her collaboration with a group of Indian weavers and Japanese tie-dye artisans.
“We have batik designs on saris and shibori [Japanese tie-dye textile] for this collection,” the 56-year-old designer said. “Fashion is limitless. By collaborating with artists from other countries and cultural backgrounds, we can enrich our fashion creations and present something new and exciting to the international market.”
Today, Carmanita exports her fashion products to Japan, the United States and Europe, where they are sold at the luxury department store Harrods in London.
Hong-Kong based Indonesian fashion designer Mardiana Ika presented her latest collection, Beauty and the Beast, during IFW 2012.
The collection featured structured jackets, blouses and skirts made of leather and brocade in monochromatic hues of black and white. A tasteful interplay of piping, crochet and classic embroideries enhanced the collection.
“Two thumbs-up for IFW,” Mardiana said. “It’s their first event. Yet, they’ve successfully engaged six government ministries, hundreds of fashion designers and small-to-medium enterprises at the event. It’s not an easy job at all.”
On Saturday, Ghea Sukarya Panggabean presented her latest collection, Orientalism, which featured kebaya-inspired cocktail dresses enhanced with colorful Chinese embroidered birds, butterflies and dragons.
“A lot of cultures influence Indonesian textiles and fashion designs,” Ghea said.
“Indonesia is so rich and diverse. And I’m proud to be an Indonesian.”
More information at: www.indonesiafashionweek.com
Indonesia Fashion Week: Where Passion Meets Fashion
Indonesia’s fashion scene is about to get more vibrant and much better connected.
From Feb. 23-26, the Indonesia Fashion Designers Association (Appmi) will present the first Indonesia Fashion Week, a series of fashion shows, trade shows, competitions and seminars at the Jakarta Convention Center.
The four-day event — organized in collaboration with the ministries of industry, trade, tourism and creative economy, and cooperatives and small-to-medium enterprises — aims to link different stakeholders in the country’s fashion scene.
“Our fashion industry is huge, but it’s still messy and uncoordinated,” IFW director Dina Midiani said last Friday. “A more serious and concentrated effort is needed to enter the international market.”
Indonesia’s fashion industry is indeed huge. According to 2011 data from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, it is the largest among the country’s 14 creative industries, and for the past five years it has contributed an annual average of Rp 71.9 trillion ($8 billion) to Indonesia’s gross domestic product.
But fashion leaders have set their sights even higher.
“We want Indonesian people to be proud of wearing Indonesian fashion products,” Dina said. “And we want to go global.”
With IFW, she said, the industry will try to galvanize some momentum.
“The event involves almost every stakeholder in Indonesia’s fashion industry, including fashion designers, small-to-medium enterprises, media, fashion schools and the government,” Dina said. “We all have to join hands and work together in order to go forward.”
Members of Appmi got the idea for the fashion week during their annual national convention in 2010, and after a year and a half of careful planning, they say their event will offer something new to the industry.
“Many people asked why we’re organizing IFW, in spite of the fact that there are already [fashion] events like this in the country,” said Taruna K. Kusmayadi, chairman of the association.
“But every event has its own focus and targets. Ours is more like a trade expo. We want to generate B2B [business-to-business] connections.”
IFW will involve more than 150 fashion designers from two major fashion associations, the Appmi and the Indonesian Fashion Designers Council (IPMI), as well as independent designers, 250 small-to-medium enterprises and 19 fashion schools.
The participating designers will showcase their ideas and clothes at the exhibition halls of the Jakarta Convention Center, with items available for retail and wholesale during the four-day event.
The exhibition will be divided into seven zones, including Muslim wear, ready-to-wear deluxe, wedding, ready-to-wear (middle class), children, accessories and textiles.
Among the exhibitors will be Indonesian clothing and toy label Monstore, which is looking forward to collaborating with other industry players.
“We have an international vision for our products,” said Eugene Tehupuring, sales manager for Monstore, which sells products at department stores and boutiques in Jakarta, Bandung and Bali, as well as in Singapore and Germany.
“With IFW, we don’t have to struggle by ourselves,” he said. “The event will give us international exposure and hopefully open new markets for us.”
IFW organizers have invited hundreds of local fashion buyers from Indonesian department stores and boutiques to attend the event.
“We’ve also invited the owners of small boutiques from Mangga Dua to IFW,” Dina said, referring to the shopping complex in North Jakarta. “They usually feature fashion products from Hong Kong and China in their stores. We want them to see that Indonesian designers and small-to-medium enterprises can also produce high-quality fashion products that they can sell in their boutiques.”
However, the organizers chose not to invite international buyers to the event yet.
“We’ll only invite international buyers in our third year,” Dina said. “It will take time to prepare our participants to meet the demands of international buyers and take international orders.”
Over the course of four days, IFW will present more than 20 fashion shows, which will feature the latest collections of Indonesian fashion designers in collaboration with small-to-medium enterprises.
Designer Ali Charisma worked with tanneries in Yogyakarta and Bali to create a collection for his ready-to-wear deluxe label, Ali Charisma.
“The theme is ‘Longing for Greece,’?” Ali said. “It consists of beautiful and romantic long, flowing dresses.”
Ali’s dresses, made of satin and silk, are enhanced with leather embellishments at the bust, waist and shoulder pads.
“It’s targeted at urban women who are strong but feminine,” he said.
Ali already exports his clothes to boutiques in Australia, the United States, Europe and the Middle East, but he hopes to broaden his global reach.
“I hope that IFW will open new international markets for my designs,” he said. The Ali Charisma fashion show is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 23, at 8 p.m.
Another fashion designer, Musa Widyatmodjo, collaborated with clusters of traditional weavers from Flores and Ende, East Nusa Tenggara, for his ready-to-wear label, M by Musa.
“Indonesia has rich and diverse traditional textiles,” Musa said. “We still don’t know many of them.”
The designer first realized the beauty of handwoven fabrics from Flores and Ende last year after a chance encounter in Jakarta with Lucia Adinda Lebu Raya, the wife of East Nusa Tenggara’s governor, which inspired him to incorporate the textiles into his own designs.
“They have very beautiful floral motifs in vibrant colors,” Musa said. “They have great potential to be developed into fashion designs.”
After working with the traditional weavers, he is pleased with the final product, which he says blends local designs with modern style.
“Just wait and see [at the show],” he said. “Although the collection features traditional textiles, it has a clean and sophisticated international look.”
The M by Musa fashion show is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m.
More than 600 male and female models will participate in the IFW shows, and a team from cosmetics group Martha Tilaar Group has been appointed to do their makeup and hairs.
“IFW is a very positive effort by Indonesian fashion designers,” said Martha Tilaar, the group’s founder and chairwoman. “We should stop complaining about the influx of international products into Indonesia and a lack of government support. Instead, we should improve our own products, work together and promote them to the international markets.”
To close the event, the last day of IFW will include the final round of the Indonesia Fashion Entrepreneur Competition. On Feb. 26, the eight finalists will present their ready-to-wear designs, including sarongs.
“They will transform sarongs into urban fashion items,” Dina said. “Hopefully, their creativity will inspire more people to wear sarongs in their daily lives and revive the sarong industry in Indonesia.”
About 30,000 people are expected to attend IFW. Twelve international journalists and fashion bloggers will also cover the event.
“Indonesia’s fashion industry is taking off now,” Dina said. “And all eyes will be on Indonesia.”
Taken from The Jakarta Globe
Hearing Fashion’s Call: Meet Indonesia’s Youngest Designer
Rafi Abdurrahman Ridwan is 9 years old and hearing impaired, and yet he has managed to accomplish what few could ever dream. Like most children, Rafi’s vision is unbounded, and with a passion rare to most people (let alone children), he has become Indonesia’s youngest fashion designer.
At Jakarta Fashion Week 2012, Rafi presented 24 ready-to-wear outfits on the main stage of the JFW fashion tent on the final day of the November event. Time on the main stage is high recognition, even among the more established names in the country’s fashion industry.
“I almost cried when I watched the show,” Rafi’s father, Mohammad Ridwan, said of his youngest child. “I’m so proud of my son.”
Rafi has faced more than his share of challenges, but has demonstrated resilience and managed to thrive.
“I was diagnosed with rubella in the first trimester of my pregnancy,” said Sinta Ayu Handayani, Rafi’s mother. “My doctor told me my child could be born with heart, sight or hearing defects.”
Brokenhearted, Rafi’s parents decided to carry on with the pregnancy.
“My husband and I believe that we don’t have any right to choose life and death for another human being,” Sinta said. “We believe the child that God has given us is a blessing.”
Rafi was born in Jakarta in July 2002 with a healthy heart, but his vision and hearing did not develop until he was 3 months old. “He also suffered from a lot of respiratory tract infections when he was a child,” Sinta said. “We had to take him to the hospital many, many times when he was a baby.”
Rafi’s health gradually improved and his sight developed fully, but his hearing remains impaired.
“Sometimes, I wonder why God has entrusted him to our family,” Ridwan said. “I truly believed there are lessons that God wants us to learn through Rafi.”
Through Rafi’s condition, his family says they’ve learned the meaning of unconditional love. “We have learned to be more patient and understanding,” Ridwan said. “Since Rafi couldn’t hear, he didn’t understand how loud he was talking or screaming. He also didn’t understand that his voice might disturb others. We had to explain it very gently to him.”
Determined that their son would survive in the outside world, Rafi’s parents enrolled him in the Santi Rama school for the deaf when he was 2 years old.
It was at Santi Rama that Rafi began to draw, sketching the colorful fish he watched in an aquarium at home. As a little boy, Rafi became enamored with Ariel, the mermaid princess from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” But one thing about Ariel bothered young Rafi.
“He kept asking me why the princess wasn’t appropriately attired,” Sinta said. “He couldn’t understand that ‘The Little Mermaid’ is only a story. So, to end his questions, I just asked him to create dresses for the mermaid.”
Rafi set himself to the task. With his colorful markers, he drew vests and jackets to cover the upper torso of the shell-ladened mermaid. And when Rafi saw Ariel become human on TV, he started designing dresses and ball gowns for her, too.
The dresses in Rafi’s sketches were so vivid and detailed that his mother began to see the design talent her son possessed. “I took him to a fashion show by Indonesian designer Auguste Soesastro in the plenary hall at the Jakarta Convention Center when he was 5 years old,” Sinta said. “I guess, the show inspired Rafi to become a fashion designer.”
Rafi became enchanted with the world of fashion. He watched fashion channels on TV and perused fashion magazines to improve his sketches.
“It was funny, whenever we would go to a bookstore, he’d run and look at the fashion magazines in the racks,” Ridwan said. Through one of these magazines, Rafi saw that the Jakarta Food and Fashion Festival was coming up.
“He practically dragged me to the event,” Sinta said. Rafi was delighted to see the beautiful gowns and meet famous Indonesian fashion designers in person at the festival. He met designer Barli Asmara, took pictures with him and showed Barli some of his sketches.
“Unlike most other kids’ drawings, Rafi’s sketches were so vivid and detailed,” Barli said. “I realized the huge potential he had.”
Barli invited Rafi and his mother to his workshop and showed the boy his own sketches and designs.
As the two became acquainted, Rafi showed his diary, titled “Letters to God,” to his new friend. Rafi wrote to God, asking for two special presents for his upcoming ninth birthday.
“First of all, Rafi asked God that he could hear,” Sinta said. “And then he asked God to be able to have a fashion show on his birthday.”
“I was touched,” Barli said. “I had the time and means to realize one of his dreams. So, we worked together to create a small collection for a fashion show.”
A mini show was arranged at Canteen in Plaza Indonesia on July 20, Rafi’s ninth birthday. Seven of Rafi’s creations were showcased in the runway show.
After the event, Lia Candrasari, an entrepreneur and founder of the LC Foundation, approached Rafi and his mother. “Rafi has exceptional talents that we should foster,” Lia said. “I also admire the resilience of his mother, Sinta, in supporting her son.”
Lia introduced Rafi to writer and textile designer Nonita Respati of Purana Batik fame, and accessories designer Ariani Pradjasaputra, who is behind the Aarti brand, and encouraged them to collaborate. The three established Purana-Aarti-Rafi, or PAR, and presented their debut collection at JFW 2012.
Rafi’s designs are fun and casual, with a tasteful combination of bold colors and patterns. His summer dresses are effortlessly chic, with detailed embellishments such as epaulets. A red batik jumpsuit was a standout in his collection. Enhanced with rows of buttons placed asymmetrically along the bodice, the jumpsuit was playful, yet stylish.
That afternoon on the JFW stage, Rafi’s talent and resilience were rewarded with a big round of applause and bouquets of flowers from the audience. The 9-year-old took it all in with his signature bright smile. “I feel morally attached to Rafi,” Lia said. “I’ll continue to support his education and career in the future.”
But Rafi’s fashion dreams aren’t the only ones to come true. Through the LC Foundation, Lia supported Rafi to undergo a cochlear implant in his right ear at Singapore General Hospital in August.
“The first time he heard noises and voices, Rafi became panicked and hysterical,” Sinta said. “He’s never heard anything in his silent world before.”
Rafi’s hearing is improving, and he has learned to recognize voices and noises from his hearing therapist. If everything goes well with his first implant, Rafi will likely receive another for his left ear in a couple of years.
But Rafi is aiming for more. “I want to be a fashion designer,” Rafi said. “I want to hold fashion shows in Paris, Milan, London and Tokyo.”
“This is another thing that I’ve learned from Rafi,” Ridwan, his father, said. “Most of us are afraid to dream. We’re limited by our own complicated logics and fears. But Rafi’s a child and he simply believes in his dreams. And slowly but surely, his dreams are coming true.
“So, I think we should all have a big dream like Rafi. When there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Taken from: The Jakarta Globe
Indonesia Bersinar di Ajang Miss Asia Pacific 2011
Indonesia bisa jadi belum terlalu sukses mendulang juara di ajang Miss Universe, tapi ini tidak terjadi di beauty pageant lain yang diselenggarakan untuk negara – negara Asia Pasific, Miss Asia Pasific. Perwakilan Indonesia, Alessandra Khadijah Usman sukses menyabet Bess Style Dress Award di ajang Miss Asia Pasific 2011 yang diselenggarakan di Korea Selatan hari Sabtu kemarin.
Award ini diberikan pada Alessandra yang juga Miss Tourism Indonesia, berdasarkan penampilannya dan kostum yang ia pakai. Alessandra terbukti memukau para juri di ajang tersebut karena selain mendapatkan penghargaan Best Style Dress Award, ia juga sukses menjadi runner up ketiga, tepat setelah perwakilan Korea Selatan, Park Sae Byul, Florima Treiber dari Prancis serta Anna Botova dari Rusia.
Alessandra adalah perwakilan Indonesia pertama yang mewakili Indonesia di ajang bergengsi yang diikuti oleh banyak negara seperti Amerika, Kanada, Inggris, Swedia, dan Belanda ini. Prestasinya membuktikan bahwa Putri Indonesia juga dapat bersinar di ajang kontes kecantikan internasional. Selamat, Alessandra!
Ditulis di Good News From Indonesia oleh Farah Fitriani
Penulis adalah mahasiswa fakultas hukum unpad yang juga kontributor GNFI. Dapat dihubungi via email di farahfitrianifaruq@gmail.com atau mention @farafit di Twitter.
Evita Nuh, Blogger Cilik dari Indonesia yang Mempengaruhi Dunia
Bagi para penikmat fashion blog, pasti sudah tak asing dengan nama Evita Nuh. Yap, gadis cilik asli Indonesia yang tahun ini genap berusia 12 tahun telah memulai fashion blogging (http://www.jellyjellybeans.blogspot.com) semenjak 3 tahun lalu. Dengan sense of fashion-nya yang keren dan kemampuan bahasa Inggrisnya yang sangat bagus membuat blognya sangat menarik untuk dibaca dan dijadikan referensi bagi para penikmat fashion baik dari dalam maupun luar negeri.
Pemilik brand clothing Little Nuh ini bahkan telah beberapa kali melakukan interview dengan beberapa majalah fashion dalam maupun luar negeri. Agustus kemarin, ada satu halaman di majalah Italia, Grazia, yang khusus memuat Evita Nuh. Bahkan, menurut http://www.babble.com, Evita termasuk 1 dari 10 blogger muda paling berpengaruh di dunia. Keren sekali bukan? Jadi, kata siapa anak Indonesia tak bisa berkarya?
Courtesy of photo: jellyjellybeans.blogspot.com
Source: www.babble.com
Ditulis untuk Good News From Indonesia oleh Ratna Suwendiyanti.
Editor: Farah Fitriani
Ekstrakulikuler Batik di Yunani
Batik, salah satu trademark Indonesia itu kini semakin mendunia, apa pasal? Baru-baru ini membatik dijadikan salah satu kegiatan ekstrakulikuler di SD Bodossakio, Kantza, Yunani. Peresmian pembukaan kelas itu diikuti oleh 300 orang siswa serangkaian dengan acara Indonesian Day di sekolah itu.
SD Bodossakio atau yang lebih dikenal dengan nama Athens College merupakan salah satu sekolah ternama di Yunani bahkan Eropa, salah satu alumnus mereka yaitu Geoge Papandreou yang merupakan PM Yunani saat ini.
Kelas membatik dan presentasi tentang Indonesia itu digagas oleh Eleni Grafakou, seorang warga Yunani yang menerima beasiswa Darmasiswa Tahun Angkatan 2006/2007 yang sekarang menjadi staf pengajar di sekolah itu. Grafakou menjelaskan pembuatan batik sangatlah tradisional tapi mempunyai hasil yang sangat indah. Ia pun melibatkan tim tari KBRI Athena untuk menampilkan tarian tradisional Indonesia.
Grafakou memulai presentasinya dengan menunjukan letak Indonesia secara geografis sambil memberikan keterangan singkat tentang pulau-pulau di Indonesia sambil diiringi musik gamelan Bali. Kemudian ia menerangkan rumah adat di Indonesia seperti rumah Gadang di Minangkabau, Joglo di Jawa dan Tongkonan di Toraja dan tidak ketinggalan menunjukan peninggalan sejarah Indonesia seperti Borobudur dan Prambanan. Selain batik ia juga menjelaskan tentang wayang kulit dan golek yang menurutnya mirip dengan yang ada di Yunani yaitu wayang Karagiozi. Grafakou juga mempresentasikan tentang kekayaan flora dan fauna seperti bunga Raflesia Arnoldi dan Orang Utan.
Selain mengajar di Bodossakio, ia juga mengajar di kelas seni terapan pada Pusat Kebudayaan dan Seni Maroussi dan Kifisia, Athena, dan membatik merupakan salah satu seni yang diajarkannya. Ia pun baru saja kembali dari Indonesia mengikuti World Batik Summit di Jakarta lalu. Pada kesempatan itu ia menerangkan perkembangan batik di Yunani dan kendala yang dihadapinya untuk mengajarkan batik di Yunani.
Program yang dijalankan Eleni Grafakou juga diharapkan bisa mempererat hubungan bilateral antara Indonesia dan Yunani serta mengenalkan indonesia sebagai negara sahabat yang kaya akan keragaman seni dan budaya serta meningkatkan hubungan dalam tatanan people-to-people contact (kontak antar masyarakat).
News Source: Detik
Re-written on Good News From Indonesia by M. Q Rusydan
Indonesian Batik More Superior
Indonesian batik products are more superior than those imported from China and Malaysia, Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said here on Thursday.
“Our handmade batik products are more superior than those from China and Malaysia because theirs are printed ones. Therefore we don’t have to worry about the number of batik imports,” Wacik said.
The culture and tourism minister noted that his office would continue to promote Indonesian handmade batik products intensively in overseas countries to make Indonesia known as the home of batik.
“It is through an intensive promotion in overseas countries that Indonesian handmade batik products be more well-known than the imported ones,” the minister said.
Indonesians were asked to wear batik on October 2, 2009 following UNESCO’s decision to add the traditional dyeing technique to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
“Following UNESCO’s recognition, we should continue to maintain and preserve our traditional batik products,” Wacik said, asking the Indonesian people from all walk of life to always wear batik and love it.
Meanwhile, Industry Minister MS Hidayat admitted that the entry of imported batik products into domestic markets was feared to disturb the competitive power of national batik industry. Therefore the government has resisted Batik-mark logo for the people to distinguish domestic batik products from the imported ones from other countries.
Batik products from China and Malaysia with much cheaper prices in the past few years have dominated a number of markets in Jakarta, but the culture and tourism minister expressed hope that Indonesians would love domestic batik than those from other countries.
Image Source: Batik Keris
News Source: KOMPAS.com
