Tempe-riffic!

I was checking out some recipes for dinner and lo and behold! Found a bunch of recipes on Tempe from all over the world! Yes, that traditional soy product originally from Java, Indonesia made by a natural culturing and controlled fermentation process that binds soybeans into a cake form. My mouth waters when I read the recipes. Tempe burger, Tempe bbq, Tempe spaghetti, Tempe teriyaki! The list goes on and on and on! Our Tempe is going global!

Here are some of the recipes, in case you ran out of ideas on what to do with that piece of Tempe you bought in the market this morning, try one of these:

Teriyaki Tempe (Japan)
Ingredients:
1 pack of Tempe, about 8 oz
1 t/spoon oil
1/4 c honey (or brown sugar if you’re vegan)
1/4 c soy sauce (gf)
1/4 c rice vinegar
1 chopped up hot chili, or 1/2 t chili flakes
2 T sesame oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4″ piece of ginger, skinned and grated

Preparation:
Cut up the Tempe into thin strips, and then cut in half. Heat up the oil in a large pan, and toss in the Tempe. Cook about ten minutes, flipping each slice after a few minutes when the first side is browned. Stir together the sauce ingredients, and pour over the Tempe. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, until the sauce is thickened. Serve over brown rice.

Tempe Carbonara (Italy)
Ingredients:
8 ounces spaghetti
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup egg replacement
1/4 cup pecorino cheese grated
1 package Tempe smoky bacon flavor (cut into pieces)

Preparation:
Heat a large pot with water for the pasta and bring to a boil. Meanwhile in a large skillet add the olive oil and heat until hot, and then add the Tempe and sauté until golden brown on each side. Pour the egg replacement into a bowl, add the pecorino cheese, some freshly ground black pepper and blend well. This gets a little tricky here but if you have all your ingredients ready to go it will work out. When the pasta is ready turn the heat off from the Tempe and set aside. Drain the pasta reserving about a ladle full of pasta water. Toss the spaghetti into the skillet with the Tempe and quickly add the egg. Mix it all together; here you might need to add a bit of the pasta water to make a creamier sauce. Serve and pass the cheese please!

Tempe salad (USA)

Ingredients:
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
1 8-ounce package Tempe
1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
1/2 cup finely sliced green onions
2 heaping tablespoons chopped parsley (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup grated carrot2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/4 – 1/2 cup vegan mayo (I used Veganaise.) I think 1/4 cup, or even less, is enough but you might like more. Try the smaller amount first.

Preparation:
Split the Tempe through the entire cake so you have two, thin, large pieces. Cut these pieces into small squares. Sauté the Tempe in the oil in a wok or heavy skillet until it turns golden, about 5 minutes. *see note.
Turn off the heat and stir in the tamari to coat the Tempe evenly. Place the Tempe in a bowl and add the chopped vegetables and the mayo and mix well. This is delicious as a salad on a bed of lettuce, or as a sandwich filling. Even my Tempe-resistant son ate it and said it was really good.*Note: My Tempe was frozen so I simmered it in a small amount of water for about 10 minutes until it was defrosted, before I sautéed it. Simmering or steaming Tempe gets rid of any bitterness and gives it a milder flavor, so you might want to do this even if your Tempe isn’t frozen.

Tempe Tacos (Mexico)
Ingredients:
8oz Tempe
1/2 small yellow onion, chopped finely (about 1 cup)
1/3 red bell pepper, chopped finely (about 3/4 cup)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2-3 tablespoons Taco Seasoning or your favorite taco seasoning
1/2 cup of water salt and pepper to taste
Taco Toppings: lettuce, avocado, cilantro, tomato, radish, green onion, salsa

Preparations:
Put a medium skillet on medium heat. Add extra virgin olive oil, onion, red bell pepper and a pinch of salt. Let it cook for about 5 minutes. Chop Tempe into small pieces then add to pan. Leave to cook for about 5 minutes.
Add taco seasoning and water. Stir well and cover with a lid. Reduce heat to medium-low and let cook, stirring occasionally. If mixture becomes to thick you can add a few splashes of water. Cook until Tempe is hot and well coated with seasoning. Taste to see if mixture needs salt and/or pepper.
Use the Tempe mixture as meat in your favorite Mexican dish: tacos, burritos, salads

Good luck trying out these new recipes!

Source of Recipes: Petitchef.com

Why is Indonesia so in love with the Blackberry?

Some of Indonesia’s three million Blackberry owners use their smartphones to pass the time until they can break their Islamic Ramadan fast.

As the joke in Indonesia goes, if you don’t have the right gadget you may end up a social outcast.

Undoubtedly, the gadget of the moment is the Blackberry smartphone.

A walk through a packed food court at lunchtime in Jakarta proves the point. Most patrons are glued to their smartphones, available in a myriad of colours but covered nonetheless in decorative cases.

Incessant message alerts reverberate around the food hall amid the clatter of cutlery.

Internet guru Onno Purbo believes Indonesian fans see the Blackberry as the trendier, flashier gadget.

Smartphone fever

But it is not just professionals like Purbo who are caught up in the hype. High school students like 14-year-old Haryo Suryo Susilo are also using them to stay in touch with their friends.

When Haryo meets us in a hotel lobby in Jogjakarta, he has been playing on his white smartphone for half an hour, ignoring the fruit platter in front of him.

A certain smartphone is also popular with members of parliament

“I’ve only had it three months and I love it,” he says. His visibly annoyed mother, Sari Susilo, says he spends all his time on his new device.

Haryo’s mother is a smartphone user herself and it is clear his love for his prize piece of technology runs in the family. His father even uses two smartphones to keep his supermarket business running and stay in touch with his family.

But why smartphones, rather than mobile phones? Because they’re so much cooler, says Sari.

This kind of smartphone fever means Research In Motion, Blackberry’s Canadian developers, needs hardly any advertising to lure in new customers or impress Indonesia’s estimated three million existing users.

Despite this, there are high-profile marketing campaigns, most notably featuring the president’s daughter-in-law.

INDONESIA FACTS
Population: 232 million
Internet users: 30 million
Facebook users: 37 million
Twitter users: 5 million
Blackberry users: 3 million
Sources: BBC Indonesia Country Profile, Internet World Stats, Socialbakers, Penn Olson.

New freaks?

Marketing analysts say it is word of mouth that drives smartphone sales in Indonesia but how this all began is a mystery.

The market leader’s features are little different to those of other smartphones available, although users can message each other for free. Somehow this lifestyle product has gained cult status in Indonesia.

“We are a nation of consumers, always on the lookout for the latest trends,” says Purbo.

Self-declared trendsetters like radio DJ Tommy Prabowo echo Purbo’s views.

“When I first got a Blackberry in 2008, very few people in Jakarta used them.

“But now I’ve just got to have it – 99 per cent of people I know use one,” he says.

Over the last two years, Prabowo has changed his smartphone four times to keep up with the latest trends.

The phenomenon is similar to the explosion of mobile phones in Indonesia less than a decade ago, making it one of the biggest mobile phone markets in the world.

“You were not cool unless you had the latest Nokia. We’re heading in the same direction now,” says Prabowo.

The DJ describes himself and his friends as ‘new freaks’.

“Some people really don’t know how to use any Blackberry features apart from its messaging service. It is new and hip, and that’s it.”

Online abuse

Prita Mulyasari was acquitted of defamation after social media backing
The explosion of smartphone users seems to have coincided with a surge in social media enthusiasts.

According to the Internet World Stats website, since 2000 internet usage in Indonesia has grown by 1500 per cent.

Web statisticians Socialbakers estimate Indonesia has 37 million Facebook users, second only to the United States, while traffic counter comScore ranked Indonesia fourth in the world for Twitter reach.

The importance of social networking came to Indonesia’s attention in 2009, when Prita Mulyasari, an Indonesian bank worker, was jailed for defamation after complaining about hospital treatment in an e-mail to friends.

Her supporters launched enormous Facebook and Twitter campaigns, sparking widespread national and international media coverage, and she was later acquitted of all charges.

More recently, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono used an address to the nation to denounce critics he claims are spreading lies and rumours about him using social media.

The president even cited Blackberry as a platform that can “improve life” but added that those who “use online media to assassinate character or abuse anyone are irresponsible, ignoble and cowardly.’

While US President Barack Obama may be known to be a long-time Blackberry addict, President Yudhoyono is surely the first head of state to mention its impact in an address to the nation.

The next big thing?

Google launched its Android mobile operating system in Indonesia last year
Internet guru Purbo believes there are many Indonesians who use communication technology for more than just updating their social status.

“This is what needs to be nurtured and the government should have something to do with it,” he says.

For years, the Indonesian government has been negotiating with Research In Motion over regulations that require the Canadian company to build a local server.

Purbo believes the government needs to be more pro-active in pushing Research In Motion to invest in Indonesia.

“Why stop at one server? It’s a small piece of equipment and can be put anywhere. Why not ask them to build a factory here?

“Indonesian programmers should be getting involved and sharing some of the profit.”

All this could change if Google’s Android system, which Purbo describes as “the next big thing” takes over the market.

Android smartphones are yet to win over the Indonesian consumer.

Purbo believes this is because they are largely manufactured in Asia, so are unappealing to Indonesians craving American or European goods.

But with millions of Blackberry users putting pressure on mobile networks, Indonesian providers are having a hard time supplying a reliable service.

“I ditched my Blackberry long ago and use the Android system now, ” laughs Purbo.

“It’s cheap and made in China.”

DJ Prabowo is also keeping a close eye the Android system.

“Some of my friends are using Android already. Others might soon have to catch up,” he says with a knowing grin.

Whatever the future holds for smartphone fans in Indonesia, it is clear this is one trendsetter who won’t be ending up a social outcast.

?Dewi Safitri
BBC Indonesian Service

Linkin Park Set to Rock Jakarta Again in September

Grammy-award winning American rock band Linkin Park has announced they’re coming back for a second concert in Jakarta in September.

“Jakarta, Indonesia. We’re coming. September 21. Stadion Utama GBK. See you soon,” they said on their official Twitter account, @linkinpark.

Tickets are priced from Rp 550,000 to Rp 2.5 million and will be available on June 18 at Tennis Indoor Senayan, according to the Web site of the concert organizer, Big Daddy Production.

Linkin Park first played in Jakarta on June 13, 2004, at the Carnaval Beach, Ancol, to a crowd of more than 30,000 fans who sang along to their hits such as “Numb” and “Crawling” from their award-winning albums “Hybrid Theory” and “Meteora.”

The band’s latest album, “A Thousand Suns,” was released in 2008.

taken from The Jakarta Globe

The King of The Hills

The Kintamani breed of dog has long sought accreditation by Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) as the only purely Indonesian breed of dog. The growing acknowledgement of the Kintamani breed and the attractive characteristics of the breed, have created a booming demand for these dogs, both at home and abroad.

The spokesman of the Bali Dog Lovers Association, Oka Munadi, said, “few Indonesians know that the Kintamani dog is credited with a ‘F10′ rating possessing an intelligence quotient determined to exceed that of many foreign breeds.” Munadu said that in addition to the popularity of the breed in Jakarta and Surabaya, the Kintamani is also very popular in Holland.

Meanwhile, home in Indonesia in areas outside Bali, such as Jakarta and Surabaya, there are already a number of established Kintamani breeders each producing up to 80 dogs in a single year selling at an individual price of between Rp 2.5 – Rp. 5 million (US$280 –US$550).

Ironically, in Bali, few people bother to breed the Kintamani, preferring to raise imported dog breeds. Munadi said the most popular Kintamani dogs have white coats, preferred over members of the breed with coats that are black, chocolate or multi-colored. Particularly prized are the thick fur most prevalent on the Kintamani’s neck and hind-quarters. Plans are reportedly underway for a major dog show to be held in Bali. Gde Ngurah Anindita, chairman of the Bali Dog Festival, said the festival will soon be held to gather dog lovers and help further popularize the Kintamani breed while

(BaliDiscovery.com)

Feel Indonesia in Various Global Brands

It’s hard to imagine Jakarta without Starbucks, LG and McDonald’s. But there was a time, not so long ago, when none of them had any footing in this country.

The first McDonald’s in Indonesia opened in Jakarta’s Sarinah building in 1991. While initially wildly popular, the Sarinah outlet has seen many ups and downs over the years, including a recent temporary closure. But since it reopened on Feb. 14, the fast-food outlet has been more popular than ever, with the premises often completely packed late into the night.

“It’s always full on the weekend,” said Sukana Jaya, a graphic designer who was meeting up with friends at the restaurant. “But we still want to come here.”

Sukana said a big part of the venue’s attraction was its new decor.

“It’s great. I really love it,” he said. “From the outside, it doesn’t look any different from all the other buildings in this area. But, on the inside, it’s so warm and cozy.”

That feeling of warmth and familiarity is no accident. When the McDonald’s outlet reopened on Valentine’s Day, customers were introduced to a whole new design, one that incorporates elements of Indonesian culture and art.

The two-story restaurant and cafe now features parquet flooring, dark wood panels and elegant glass partitions. The partitions feature an ancient geometric batik pattern, known as kawung . A glass panel on the wall leading to the cashier counter is decked out in Jawa Hokokai batik from Pekalongan, Central Java. Its vibrantly colored motif of butterflies floating over a flower garden brightens the warm and elegant decor.

“We incorporate Indonesian cultural elements into our restaurants’ decor and architectural designs as a show of our appreciation for the local culture,” said Michael Hartono, communications and marketing director of Rekso Nasional Food, the licensee of McDonald’s in Indonesia.

While many people think of McDonald’s as a prime example of American culture invading the rest of the world, part of the reason for the company’s international success is its ability to adapt to the tastes and cultures of different countries. It’s a lesson that applies far beyond fast food.

“There’s no such thing as a real ‘global’ product nowadays,” said Hermawan Kartajaya, a marketing expert and CEO of MarkPlus Consulting, a company that advises international companies looking to do business in Indonesia. “To survive in local markets, all international products have to localize in terms of their content or context.”

Hermawan said one example of McDonald’s adaptability to local markets was the Maharaja Mac, which is served in all of its outlets in India. The burger, made with lamb instead of beef, is a necessity in a country filled with Hindus who believe cows are sacred.

“McDonald’s wouldn’t sell many burgers [in India] if they tried to serve beef,” Hermawan said.

McDonald’s made similar alterations to its menu in Indonesia out of respect for local culture and to appeal to familiar tastes. It doesn’t serve pork, which is forbidden in Islam, and two of its most popular items in Indonesia, fried chicken and rice, are not available in America.

“Brands are like people,” said Yuswohady, chief executive of the MarkPlus Institute of Marketing. “They have their own image and characteristics. Each has a unique relationship with its customers.”

“To survive in the Indonesian market, global products need to maintain an emotional connection with their local customers,” he continued. “They need to localize their products and brand’s identities. I call this ‘glocalization.’?”

McDonald’s has made great efforts to glocalize its famous brand in Indonesia. For example, the facade of the McDonald’s outlet in Boulevard, a tourist area in Manado, North Sulawesi, has been designed to resemble a traditional junk out of respect for the local seafaring culture.

In Kebo Iwa, Denpasar, the outlet includes local architectural design elements, such as a bale bengong (gazebo) and sanggha (small temple) to place offerings to the gods.

But McDonald’s adoption of the local culture goes beyond its restaurants’ facades and interiors.

“Step by step, we’re also substituting all of our imported ingredients with local products,” Michael said.

According to the communications and marketing director, 85 percent of the restaurants’ ingredients, such as rice, eggs, chicken and vegetables, are now sourced locally. It’s a move that helps the company support the local economy as well as cut costs and deliver fresher ingredients.

Another international company going the extra mile to glocalize is South Korean electronics giant LG. The company, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary of doing business in Indonesia, said part of the reason for its success here was its extensive customer surveys and market research that allowed it to develop products in line with the needs and wants of local customers.

Based on this research, it launched a new line of LG microwave ovens in December that features settings designed to cook specific Indonesian dishes, such as sate ayam (chicken skewers), bolu kukus (a type of cake) and kolak pisang (braised banana in palm sugar sauce).

“Our aim is not merely to satisfy our customers, but to delight them as well,” said Michael Adisuhanto, head of LG’s home appliance division. “That’s why we work so hard to develop new products that truly fit the needs of Indonesians.”

In collaboration with Yayasan Batik Indonesia (Indonesian Batik Foundation), the company has also applied batik designs to its home appliances. In October 2010, 15 batik artisans from across the country were commissioned by LG to paint batik motifs on the surfaces of 10 refrigerators and washing machines.

The products are officially the first home appliances to feature batik motifs, according to the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI).

“LG is a multinational electronics company,” Michael said. “By applying batik to our home appliances, we show that we also appreciate Indonesian culture.”

Among the 15 batik patterns used on the products were Batik Yogya, Batik Banyumasan (East Java) and Batik Madura.

The washing machines and refrigerators were sold at a private auction in Jakarta in December. Each of the products was sold for approximately two to three times its original price. The proceeds from the auction, totaling Rp 75.5 million ($8,700), were donated to Yayasan Perempuan Untuk Negeri (Women for the Nation Foundation) in Jakarta.

LG is now planning to mass produce the batik-motif washing machines and refrigerators and make them available to the public.

“This is modernization,” said Sri Soedewi Samsi, a batik expert and author of “Teknik dan Ragam Hias Batik Yogya & Solo” (“Techniques and Ornaments of Yogya & Solo Batik”). “Today, we can see batik not only on clothes, but also on home appliances. In my opinion, this is a good way to perpetuate our culture. Culture has to adapt in order to survive in the modern world.”

The famous Starbucks chain of coffeehouses has only been in Indonesia since 2002, when the first outlet opened in Plaza Indonesia. The company, which has more than 17,000 stores in 50 countries, including 92 outlets in Indonesia, has become a global force thanks to its strong brand, but it has also made strong efforts to integrate itself into local communities.

And, like McDonald’s and LG, one of the ways it is doing that here is through the use of batik. The company hired fashion designer Iwet Ramadhan to come up with special uniforms for its baristas using the iconic Indonesian patterns.

“I felt both flattered and challenged,’’ Iwet said. “Starbucks is like the number one coffee shop in the world. I wanted to portray that image in my design.’’

He chose to put Sekar Jagad, the traditional Javanese portrayal of a world map using batik design, onto the black T-shirts worn by Starbucks baristas.

“The motif also signifies the harmonious relationship between Starbucks products and the community,” Iwet said.

The copper-hued motif is featured on a triangular pattern on the shirts’ left sleeve.

‘’At first glance, I didn’t realize it was batik,” said coffee-lover Cynthia Keliat. “But when I finally did, I have to admit, I felt a surge of pride that a big international company like Starbucks would use batik on their uniforms.”

Anthony Cottan, director of food and beverage concepts at Mitra Adi Perkasa, the sole licensee of Starbucks in the country, said they wanted to make sure and put an Indonesian face on the company.

“We want to make sure that Indonesian customers can see that we’re not just some big US company,” he said. “We’re also a company that understands Indonesia.”

Source: The Jakarta Globe

Lady Gaga and Indonesian

A gown by young Indonesian designer, Tex Saverio, adorns Lady Gaga in the May edition of Harper’s Bazaar magazine.

Gaga’s stylist Nicola Formichetti announced it on his Twitter account that Gaga was donning the unique gown by Tex Saverio, also known as Rio, for the fashion spread.

In the photo published on Harper’s Bazaar’s Web site, Gaga wears the transparent black gown with ornate detailing.

On average, a piece by Rio goes for Rp 15 million ($1,700), and the gown worn by Gaga is priced at Rp 33 million.

Rio first burst onto the scene at a joint fashion show called Rejuvenate in July 2010, sending shock waves through the Jakarta fashion world and the international fashion blogging community.

Tex Saverio likes to experiment to produce his one-of-a-kind gowns. So far, he has adorned his gowns with feathers and faux leather with ornate details crafted by graphic designers. His style embraces a melange of technological and theatrical techniques.

Taken from The Jakarta Globe

Designers and Traditional Textiles

The year 2010 was a bright year in local fashion industry, with the debut of some young designers while old players presented their explorations of traditional textiles, mainly tenun woven fabrics.

January-February

In early February, Adrian Gan presented his latest collection called Lingdreights, a combination of flowing lingerie and 1980s fashions.  For the collection, he played with different fabrics, from velvet, lace, silk to tulle, most of which were popular during the 1980s, a time when lingerie began to emerge as outerwear and a touch of drapery entered fashion.

Lenny Agustin released her latest batik-inspired collection under her very own label, Lennor, in a show called “Dazzling Moments”, bravely colliding one color with another and combining motifs and patterns into one for menswear and ladies’ wear.

She uses several kinds of batik, combining them with lurik (Javanese hand-woven fabrics) and sarong as well as fabrics and patterns from regions across Indonesia, including Sidoarjo in East Java, Pekalongan in Central Java and Makassar in South Sulawesi.

Meanwhile, Kanaya Tabitha launched her latest line, Fabulous, redefining office wear with sexy yet glamorous touches to add color to women’s working lives.
Kanaya offers mini dresses, jackets, Capri pants and jumpsuits, using fabrics like wool, satin and lace.

The ready-to-wear collection is dedicated to high-end professional working women in big cities aged 24 and up.

March-April

The local fashion industry welcomes young yet talented designer Dian Adriani Jusuf, who toys with a lot of folds and pleats in her deluxe ready-to-wear collection, presented early April. The show displayed outfits in white, gray, maroon and green shades made from silk, satin and chiffon with a combination of jacquard. The label Adriani is Dian’s second label after she launched her ready-to-wear line, Lilou, in 2007.

May-June

In June, fashion lovers were pleased with the opening of Level One, a place designated for Jakarta’s young entrepreneurs.

Level One occupies a 2,700-square-meter area on the first floor of Grand Indonesia shopping center, housing 22 stores selling a total of 28 brands, ranging from clothing lines, accessories and bags to furniture, photography and a charity shop.

July-August

July was a busy month for senior designer Biyan Wanaatmadja as he held two shows in a row under his high fashion self-titled label Biyan and ready-to-wear brand (X) S.M.L. He displayed his latest first-line collection in a grand show called “As Time Goes By”, marking his 27th year in fashion. The inspiration came from elegant costumes once worn by kings and queens in days of yore, which was translated into 100 outfits.

A few days later, Biyan introduced the latest collection of (X) S.M.L. titled Caravan, offering a string of fabulous military themed ready-to-wear outfits.

The month of July, however, closed with sad news with the passing of  batik designer Iwan Tirta on July 31 at the age of 75. He had been hospitalized for 10 days due to complications affecting his major organs and was buried at Karet Bivak Cemetery.

Born in Central Java’s Blora on April 18, 1935, Iwan had long pursued his love of traditional Javanese batik in the 1970s and 1980s and was highly committed to promoting batik long before batik regained its popularity over the last few years. He also authored several books on batik and dressed visiting dignitaries, including US president Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy in the mid-1980s, and world leaders during the 1994 APEC conference.

August was a month for Muslim wear as the Indonesia Islamic Fashion Fair 2010 was held in a bid to welcome the holy month of Ramadan and Idul Fitri. Shafira, a local Muslim clothing line, rolled out women’s, men’s and children’s wear with the theme of  Spring in the Desert, which was inspired by the beauty of Morocco and some touches from traditional Indonesian textiles.

September-October

In October, fashionistas got a nice surprise when Eddy Betty, best known for his haute couture designs, launched a prêt-a-porter collection, Edbe (pronounced e-d-be).

Eddy said his collection was influenced by Eastern culture, featuring some Japanese touches without ignoring Indonesian style. The Edbe collection, which is edgy and funky, is basically dedicated to those who adore freestyle or who want to take a break from tight and sexy dresses.

Sebastian Gunawan once again showed his Midas touch in a series of  Femme Fatale outfits by taking inspiration from women’s fashion in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

He once said he was motivated by women who had strong personalities in terms of fashion and style, such as Lauren Bacall, Marilyn Monroe and Greta Garbo.

Veteran designer Susan Budihardjo, one of fashion gurus in Indonesia well-known for her Susan Budihardjo Fashion School, celebrated the school’s 30th anniversary by staging a show titled Iconic Silhouette, which showcased the works of more than 100 alumni such as Adrian Gan, Ahmad Sofiyulloh or Sofie, Didi Budiardjo, Eddy Betty and Sebastian Gunawan.

At the end of October, the Indonesian Fashion Designers Council (IPMI) revealed the 2011 trend through the collections of its eight designers, including Era Soekamto, Carmanita, Priyo Oktaviano and Barli Asmara in a show titled “Metamorphic”.

November-December

November was a busy time for local designers, ateliers and labels in town as they showcased their latest pieces in a number of shows and events.

The month opened with the annual Jakarta Fashion Week (JFW) 2010/2011, which displayed alluring works from senior designers and newcomers.

While batik became the center of attention in last year’s Jakarta Fashion Week, tenun (traditional woven cloth) had its turn at this year’s event.

Oscar Lawalata, for instance, showed off his skills through the Weaving the Future collection — a collaborative work with British designer Laura Miles, focusing on various hand-woven silk creations as well as traditional fabrics from eastern Indonesia.

Other designers also turned traditional textiles from South Sumatra, such as songket Palembang and tenun blongsong, into modern yet stylish outfits in a show segment called “Cita Tenun Indonesia: Cita Swarna Bumi Sriwijaya”, held by Yayasan Cita Tenun Indonesia, a foundation committed to preserving and promoting traditional Indonesian textiles.

Renowned designer Ghea S. Panggabean also used JFW as an opportunity to celebrate her 30 years in fashion, showcasing the Bohemian style, which was popular in the 1970s, followed with the Gypset Traveler collection, which explored the strikingly attractive tenun ikat woven cloth from the country’s eastern regions as well as a bunch of rainbow-colored South Sumatra’s songket Palembang.

Kebaya designer Anne Avantie marked her 20 years in fashion by staging a big show, featuring 100 outfits of her signature collection, including classic kebaya, ethnic ball gowns, cheongsam kebaya, asymmetric kebaya and ethnic bridal gowns.

In mid-November, celebrity darling Arantxa Adi indulged fashionistas and his loyal clientele, mostly celebrities, with his latest collection, marking his 12 years in fashion. Pretty one- and two-piece dresses with asymmetric cuts made from taffeta silk and cotton silk were seen all over the runway.

Seventeen designers of the Indonesian Fashion Designers’ Association  (APPMI), including Dina Midiani, Oka Diputra, Ali Charisma and Harry Ibrahim, were chosen to show their best creations in the commemoration of the organization 17th anniversary.

News Source : The Jakarta Post

Photo Source : euvoria.com

Keenest Resolutions

A brighter consumer outlook for 2011 marks the end of a year marred by recession and economic crises, according to a poll on Friday. More than three-quarters (77 percent) of 18,000 people in a global survey by Reuters/Ipsos said next year will be better than 2010.

Nearly half the respondents (48 percent) polled across 24 countries said that 2010 was “a bad year for me and my family”. But just over half (51 percent) believe the “world will be a better place in 2011” and those who planned to make 2011 resolutions were focused on finances.

?
“Against this backdrop, the top resolutions dealing with money and an outlook favoring optimism bodes well for the outset of 2011,” said John Wright, senior vice president of market research firm Ipsos.

Despite the optimism and at a time when European governments are slashing budgets to avoid falling victim to a debt and deficit crisis, only 36 percent of respondents agreed “very much” that they would make personal resolutions for 2011 and 45 percent “somewhat” agreed they would make a resolution.

Indonesians, South Africans and Chinese were the keenest on resolutions, while respondents in Hungary, Japan and Germany were the least interested. Nearly seven in 10 resolutions made this year involve money, reflecting a year of economic crisis that has been felt keenly in Europe where a leading British think tank said on Friday that it gave the euro currency a one-in-five chance of surviving in its current form over the next 10 years.

Earning more money was the most popular resolution at 21 percent, followed by saving more money (16 percent) and better budget control of personal or family finances (16 percent). Having a healthier lifestyle was the next most popular resolution after earnings, finances and budgets.

The people most likely to make resolutions in 2011 were in the high income bracket, had a high level of education, were less than 35 years old, not married and had a job. The bottom of the heap for resolutions included getting divorced, cutting down on or quitting drinking alcohol, resolving outstanding conflicts, going back to school, having children and getting married.

Fewer than 30 percent of resolutions will be about strengthening relationships with spending more family time top of the pile at 11 percent, followed by more time with friends. Wright said monthly polling on the assessment of national economies witnessed a positive turning point at mid year in 2010.

“After being savaged by the recession, consumer citizens were seeing hopeful signs of recovery,” he said.

News Sources : Reuters, Kompas, Indonesia Berprestasi

Photo Source :

The Comfortable and Long Lasting Nikicio

This is a story about a young Indonesian designer who’s getting people attention because of her unique and fabulous designs of clothing. her collections now can be found not only in Indonesia, but also in Singapore and Netherlands.

For the past three years,  Nina Karina Nikicio has worked hard to establish her label, Nikicio. Focusing on wearable pieces and classic styles, the label is receiving more and more recognition each year. Under Nikicio, Nina designs for four different lines that include men’s and women’s wear.

On Wednesday night, Nina held a fashion show to display her new collection at The Goods Dept, the concept department store which opened in Plaza Indonesia two weeks ago. It is the ninth store to sell Nikicio’s collections, which can also be found in Bandung, Bali, Singapore and Amsterdam.

The new collection is entitled The White Oleander, which is also the title of a book by Janet Fitch that Nina read some time ago. The book tells the story of a child’s coming of age.

Nina said she also watched the movie adaptation of the story and was hugely inspired by it, so much so that she designed her new collection around its themes. “When you watch the movie, you will think of three words to describe it — beautiful, dangerous and proud,” Nina said.

The ideas behind these words, Nina said, were also her inspiration for a new collection for Nikicio’s Femme line, which is aimed at female executives aged 25-35. The White Oleander collection also reflects some of the changes in Nina’s personality.

She said the urge to create a more feminine look came not only from reading The White Oleander, but also from the fact that she is growing up. “I’m becoming a woman. I have started wearing skirts and dresses,” Nina said.  “Before, I didn’t do dresses. Now I do.”

However, she said, she wants her skirts and dresses to be both feminine and comfortable. “Something comfortable and long lasting is what the Nikicio label is all about.”

One of the pieces from the new collection is a long, black dress with flowery patterns that look mysterious yet feminine. The dress falls just above the ankles, which appears sexy in an awkward kind of way. Other dresses have a simple cut with the back side longer than the front, complete with a tie to accentuate the waist.

There is one particular piece that embraces modesty — the pairing of a gray, houndstooth dress with a pair of loose pants in camel, which is predicted to be the trendy color next year. Nina’s new collection also features cropped, oversized sweaters paired with hot pants and shirts for a relaxed yet polished look.

Another piece of outer wear from the collection is a classic, double-buttoned trench coat. For a bohemian look, the coat is paired with a long, asymmetrical gray skirt and a semicircular travel bag.

Nikicio’s The White Oleander also features a new signature dress, a miniature version of one of her previous pieces. It is available in jersey or chiffon and can be worn in different ways to create 25 unique styles.

Nina said she made the dress shorter so it would be much more comfortable for women to use as a top or a shawl. The signature dress is an embodiment of one of her design principles, which is to create pieces that are versatile and of long-term value to consumers.

In this collection, Nina utilizes a wide variety of local fabrics.  She uses Indonesian textiles from Bali, such as faux leather, batik and ikat prints. There is a touch of ikat in the structured jacket, which Nina said is a refreshing change from her usual loyalty to plain colors.

“They’re all beautiful, dangerous in a way, and proudly feminine,” Nina said.

To end the show, Nina used a piece that perfectly exemplifies her aesthetic — a gracefully long, black and polka dot-printed chiffon dress. Some of The White Oleander products are being sold exclusively at The Goods Dept. A part of the collection — aimed at a different market in terms of style and price range — is available at the Centro department store.

In addition to Femme, Nina also designs for men under her Homme label.  Nina’s main line of pret-a-porter designs is called Mixte. She also designs for young adults under her NN:02 label, which emphasizes the use of environmentally friendly fabrics.

News Source : The Jakarta Globe

Photo Source : nikicio.com

Islamic Fashion Goes Stylish in Indonesia

Long known as feminine and demure, Indonesia’s traditional kebaya is headed for a makeover at the hands of innovative designers.

Growing demand for stylish yet still modest fashions in the world’s most populous Islamic nation is helping power efforts to bring Islamic fashion into the modern age, a movement symbolised by changes to the iconic kebaya, a blouse-dress combination.

Fun prints, intricate detailing, colours so bold as to be psychedelic and a mix of delicate lace all graced the catwalk at the recent Jakarta Fashion Week. One designer even paired the kebaya with red-and-yellow striped tights.

“I think it’s a good presentation because if you wear Muslim clothing like this, it’s not necessarily boring,” Jakarta Fashion Week project manager Petty Fatimah told Reuters.

“You can definitely expect to see more Islamic fashion in the future and it is for everybody. If you’re not a woman who wears Islamic clothing you can still wear it.”

Though Islamic clothing is not mandatory throughout much of this vast nation, many women struggle with the desire to be both fashionable but dress in line with Islamic principles that rule against showing hair or skin.

In a nod to local mores, U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama donned a headscarf on her visit to Jakarta’s Istiqlal mosque earlier this month. But wearing the headscarf is not mandatory and regulations concerning clothing are fairly liberal save for Indonesia’s West Aceh district, which is the sole upholder of sharia — or Islamic — law.

Earlier this year, authorities in West Aceh began giving away long, loose skirts to Acehnese women wearing tight jeans.

Yet despite coming across as “sexy” to some due to its tight fit and use of see-through materials, the kebaya has managed to escape censure even from Islamist groups such as the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), who criticized the wives of the president and vice-president last year for not wearing headscarves prior to the presidential elections.

MODERN DESIGNS, MUSLIM CLOTHING

For those in the industry, allowing the kebaya to be reinvented paves the way for designers who want to introduce modern designs into Muslim style clothing.

Themed “Styling Modernity,” models in kebaya outfits launched Jakarta’s third Fashion Week earlier this month, with 16 selected designers putting their own spin on the garment.

“If you look at the scene five years ago, women didn’t have choices. But now, it’s growing, and we have many designers who design Muslim wear,” said designer Lenny Agustin, who is known for her eclectic style.

Other collections, with titles such as “Romantic Return,” “Garden Luxury” and “Catch Your Eyes,” featured billowy ankle length dresses, harem-style pants and tunic suits which still complied with Islamic clothing norms.

Keeping stylish fashion in line with Islamic norms isn’t just a gesture for traditionalists, Petty Fatimah noted.

“Fashion is a big business and our population is very big. By focusing on local fashion that would cater to the local population, it is a big opportunity,” she said.

Homemaker Tuttiyah, 55, who wore a long, full-sleeved blue tunic-style blouse with black three-quarter pants, said she doesn’t feel torn between style and modesty because there are so many choices available. She wears a headscarf outside her home.

“Those who prefer the traditional version can still buy and wear that, whereas those who want to keep up with modern times can buy and wear the modern ones,” she said.

“If you want to look good, if you want to look fashionable, you have to keep up with modern times and changing trends.”

Source : Lifewise Style

This story was posted on Fri, November 26, 2010