11.05
Islamic Fashion
The Mecca of Muslim Fashion
Melbourne. On pilgrimages to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Indonesian Muslims are not only carrying out haj rituals, says a chief editor of a woman’s magazine. They have also unintentionally become real life models of Indonesian Islamic fashion, she says.
Muslim designers mix the hijab with latest fashions
Fashion is a form of self-expression. It's all about experimenting with looks and, in many cases, attracting attention. The Islamic headscarf, or hijab, is exactly the opposite. It's about modesty and attracting as little attention as possible.
2011 Muslim Style and Fashion
Not only have the guide to contemporary fashion trends, Muslims fashion also have a reference style. For 2011, practical style, urban, and multicultural touch to outline the dress.
Senin, 23 Mei 2011
Irna La Perle Muslim Wedding Dress Trend 2011
2011 Muslim Style and Fashion
Not only have the guide to contemporary fashion trends, Muslims fashion also have a reference style. For 2011, practical style, urban, and multicultural touch to outline the dress.
In fact, Muslim fashion trends are not much shifted from the trend in 2010 which has led to the plural and condensed style with multicultural touches. Still, when talking about Islamic fashion, certainly not much range of tunic and robe. Yet, beyond these two types of clothing, many of which can be used as a reference style. Moreover, in 2011 an increasingly liberate Muslim fashionista with a mode of expression.
This was confirmed Moestaram Malik, a young designer who recently cultivate the Muslim fashion. He saw the tendency of Muslims that characterized urban contemporary multicultural. They accept a variety of world cultures and integrate them in a neat appearance.
This was confirmed Moestaram Malik, a young designer who recently cultivate the Muslim fashion. He saw the tendency of Muslims that characterized urban contemporary multicultural. They accept a variety of world cultures and integrate them in a neat appearance.
"Multicultural is the language mode that shows the universal image. And, I would like to present something that the international style," said Malik, who then pours it in the style of dressing the modern woman who can give the look that was popular multicultural market.
For example, if you have a shirt long sleeves, combine it with a vest knitting tie, and pants pipe to get the look preppy look student dormitory style. Meanwhile, when the feminine image you wish to present, simply wearing overalls berpalet sweet on denim.
Do not hesitate to combine several colors at once to get the total look different.
The color seems to fit with the trend line 2011, rely on pallets cheerful. Indonesia is also Muslim fashion designer presents a collection of bright tone. Stage big cities like Bandung and Jakarta to witness how Indonesian Muslim fashion designer was no longer fixated on the rules of religion alone, also began to flexible in adapting to consumer needs. Moreover, they now present in packaging design that is simpler, practical, and of course contemporary style.
Mix and match actually applies not only in terms of color combinations. The various formations dress appropriately even when combined can produce a compelling display. Try and match patterned long tunic with a plain white vest, wear long skirts with volume, and be a unique performance style of the hippies. As a sweetener, add a long necklace and wooden bangles. Wear also rope-soled sandals to complement flat appearance.
However, not so with a robe. To combine them, it takes a certain austerity. Because, if not properly integrated, unified frontier gamis it will make the wearer look "crowded." If you want to integrate robe with other clothing, you can try the following techniques. Wear a robe made from lightweight in a neutral palette, try patterned minimal. As a counterpart, wear a sleeveless short bolero in contrasting colors.
You can also use the combined overslag style robe with obi to get different views. Remember, this is unified frontier colors can be the deciding factor overall look. If you dare, combine any two colors from different poles. For example, gray and red, or purple and yellow. However, if you want stylish neutral palette combine two classics, like a black and white or beige and brown.
Your imagination is limited? Do not worry, we've included some designer collection to be your reference. In 2011, those who like to look attractive does not hurt when trying to force offered Fenny Mustafa. Muslim fashion house owner Shafira House presents a blend of contrasting colors are packed in the breath Moroccan-style clothing, enriched with detailed beading and embroidery.
Meanwhile, the collection Shafira still follows the red thread from last year's collection that carries the universalization of the Islamic fashion. That's because Shafira eager grip design in accordance with Islamic law can be more universally accepted.
As for unified frontier Hannie Hananto color of choice. A striped blouse rely on geometric patterns, Hannie try to approach the style of Muslim dress for the Muslimurban dynamic. Similarly, the use of color, Hannie presents an unusual combination of palette. Dark yellow blended black, light blue and then there are served with black, yellow, white as well. In other collections, Hannie provide alternative clothing presented in orange and yellow palette.
Meanwhile, those who want to see the calm, can choose the style of Ida Royani reference. The use of earthy palette nan natural, elegant in the hands of designers as well as this artist. References Middle Eastern style was evident from the design offered. Like the balloon-sleeved tunic which combined with fabric and stacked canal which doubles as a tunic modifications. Ida also gives an interesting combination technique by adding a vest accented woven as superficial.
Alternatively served Dian Pelangi. Collection of the display provides an aura of femininity as well as edgy style typical of youth, especially in the use of color and accent applications and detail that is so alluring. Tie dye techniques and drapes game into its own action. So also with unusual silhouette which is prepared similar outer canal. Alibaba is show pants as the equivalent of giving too attractive appearance without excessive impression.
For example, if you have a shirt long sleeves, combine it with a vest knitting tie, and pants pipe to get the look preppy look student dormitory style. Meanwhile, when the feminine image you wish to present, simply wearing overalls berpalet sweet on denim.
Do not hesitate to combine several colors at once to get the total look different.
The color seems to fit with the trend line 2011, rely on pallets cheerful. Indonesia is also Muslim fashion designer presents a collection of bright tone. Stage big cities like Bandung and Jakarta to witness how Indonesian Muslim fashion designer was no longer fixated on the rules of religion alone, also began to flexible in adapting to consumer needs. Moreover, they now present in packaging design that is simpler, practical, and of course contemporary style.
Mix and match actually applies not only in terms of color combinations. The various formations dress appropriately even when combined can produce a compelling display. Try and match patterned long tunic with a plain white vest, wear long skirts with volume, and be a unique performance style of the hippies. As a sweetener, add a long necklace and wooden bangles. Wear also rope-soled sandals to complement flat appearance.
However, not so with a robe. To combine them, it takes a certain austerity. Because, if not properly integrated, unified frontier gamis it will make the wearer look "crowded." If you want to integrate robe with other clothing, you can try the following techniques. Wear a robe made from lightweight in a neutral palette, try patterned minimal. As a counterpart, wear a sleeveless short bolero in contrasting colors.
You can also use the combined overslag style robe with obi to get different views. Remember, this is unified frontier colors can be the deciding factor overall look. If you dare, combine any two colors from different poles. For example, gray and red, or purple and yellow. However, if you want stylish neutral palette combine two classics, like a black and white or beige and brown.
Your imagination is limited? Do not worry, we've included some designer collection to be your reference. In 2011, those who like to look attractive does not hurt when trying to force offered Fenny Mustafa. Muslim fashion house owner Shafira House presents a blend of contrasting colors are packed in the breath Moroccan-style clothing, enriched with detailed beading and embroidery.
Meanwhile, the collection Shafira still follows the red thread from last year's collection that carries the universalization of the Islamic fashion. That's because Shafira eager grip design in accordance with Islamic law can be more universally accepted.
As for unified frontier Hannie Hananto color of choice. A striped blouse rely on geometric patterns, Hannie try to approach the style of Muslim dress for the Muslimurban dynamic. Similarly, the use of color, Hannie presents an unusual combination of palette. Dark yellow blended black, light blue and then there are served with black, yellow, white as well. In other collections, Hannie provide alternative clothing presented in orange and yellow palette.
Meanwhile, those who want to see the calm, can choose the style of Ida Royani reference. The use of earthy palette nan natural, elegant in the hands of designers as well as this artist. References Middle Eastern style was evident from the design offered. Like the balloon-sleeved tunic which combined with fabric and stacked canal which doubles as a tunic modifications. Ida also gives an interesting combination technique by adding a vest accented woven as superficial.
Alternatively served Dian Pelangi. Collection of the display provides an aura of femininity as well as edgy style typical of youth, especially in the use of color and accent applications and detail that is so alluring. Tie dye techniques and drapes game into its own action. So also with unusual silhouette which is prepared similar outer canal. Alibaba is show pants as the equivalent of giving too attractive appearance without excessive impression.
Crochet Trim Womens Romper
Posted in: Women's StyleHow Important is Heritage?
The jumper pictured above was hand-knitted on Inis Mor, the largest of the Irish Aran islands. It was made from locally-sourced wool; wool which has been woven by islanders for generations. Each jumper takes approximately one week to make, and in order to receive the Aran Seal must be entirely hand-crafted by the same person.
Spot any problems with the paragraph above? As well as lacking a suitably jolly Gaelic folk backing tune and narration by Liam Neeson, the whole thing is actually total lie - the jumper was made in China, and very likely by machine. But it is a snapshot of the dilemma faced by many traditional western menswear companies who want to keep production in their countries of origin. If it looks good and is cheaper, why should the average consumer spend more on the “real thing”?
Regions and towns throughout Europe often have strong associations with certain types of clothing manufacturing. Vigevano, in the northern Italian region of Lombardy, has long been central to the country’s shoemaking industry. As a consequence the city’s shoemakers have amassed generations’ worth of knowledge and expertise. This is reflected in the quality of the shoes they make, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that shoes made in, say, Indonesia, are inferior. There may be some decidedly shoddy Vigevano-based shoemakers who are getting away with producing sub-standard clogs on the back of the city’s reputation, while some great young shoemaking talent in Jakarta might be being unfairly ignored.
High-end menswear manufacturing expertise in emerging economies has improved dramatically over the past two decades, a trend that is likely to continue as long as demand remains high. Traditional Western menswear manufacturers have had a tough time of late, and can no longer rely on domestic consumers to support them. There will always be brands whose mystique allows them withstand pressures to relocate production - Louis Vuitton is a case in point. But in recent years many small British manufacturers have been forced to make some difficult decisions, with redundancies the inevitable end result.
But it’s not all bad news: some British manufacturers whose futures once looked bleak have been fighting against the offshoring tide. Two fine examples are Sunspel and John Smedley, both of whom have managed to rescue themselves from the brink. Their success lies in careful backroom restructuring and, more importantly, in finding a way to successfully cash in on their heritage - something that is especially valued by well-off consumers in the Far East. The importance of Japan, and increasingly China, to the long-term future of these companies cannot be ignored.
Personally, I’m quite fond of learning about a company’s manufacturing history and so on, but there is a danger of heritage overload: reading endless press releases, websites and labels that liberally sprinkle words like ‘finely crafted’, ‘curated’ and ‘authentic’ can reek of pretension, and it’s hard to stick out from the crowd when every other menswear manufacturer is using them. The key to British menswear manufacturers’ survival is to maintain the high quality of their products and remain profitable without relocating production. If John Smedley were to start producing sweaters in China it may very well boost profits in the short term, but it’s highly unlikely that consumers - especially in Asia - will be willing to pay the same price for them once they realise what’s going on: they will perceive the quality as inferior and, crucially, will lose the much-loved “Made in England” label from their cardies. This might benefit other British-based knitwear manufacturers with a similar price point and heritage (like Sunspel), but it would be a loss for the industry as a whole.
So, what should we, the consumers, do? It’s true that buying western-made clothing helps keep textile-related skills and jobs in their countries of origin; but - despite the sweatshop horror stories - buying eastern-made clothing ultimately plays a part in pulling the world’s poorest out of poverty.
It’s a tricky one. Maybe the best thing to do is simply buy whatever suits you best. It might be ethically dubious, but it’s better than being the kind of person who berates people for not supporting local manufacturing while owning a wardrobe full of Chinese-made clothes.
Posted in: Men's FashionA Few New Season Trends
Having been to a few collection previews for AW/11 I thought I’d highlight a few trends I’ve picked up on.
Ironically, just as I’ve ordered a windowpane check suit it seems they’re back in vogue, excellent timing or an irritation depending on your point of view. While the pattern on my suit is a relatively subtle one, it seems big and bold are the dominant trends. This also extends to chalk stripe suits, over pinstripe, which is something I’ve seen a fair amount of.
I have to say bold chalk stripes are one of my favourite suiting options and one I’ve been thinking about recently. A chalk stripe is a London classic that just fits in my view. Indeed, outside of London it can look a bit odd.
Pin Stripe, City Stripe and Chalk Stripe
Now, I was taught that pin stripes were thin lines –actually a series of small dots- commonly woven into worsted cloths. A City stripe was the thicker more prominent stripe with the fuzzy edge, but again woven on worsted cloths, albeit of a heavier weight. A chalk stripe, however, is a thick fuzzy stripe woven into an open textured cloth, like flannel. The effect is a highly textured one which gives the appearance of the stripe being drawn onto the cloth with tailor’s chalk, which is the origin of the pattern. It is this last category that retailers have picked up, and that brings me neatly onto the next trend, texture.
It may seem odd to suggest that retailers are finally picking up on texture for seasonal suiting. But for those of us whose wardrobes depend on the whim of off the peg retailers getting something other than heavier weight worsteds hasn’t always been easy. Autumn and winter are the natural backdrops to flannel, and retailers have been picking up on grey flannel the last few winters, but that was all. What I’m most excited by is the prevalence of blue flannel in several collections -not only plain, but chalk stripes and windowpane checks.
But this isn’t the only type of texture you can expect.
I’ve seen a lot more jacketing in luxurious cashmere - like the one above from Gieves & Hawkes - and cloths with a cashmere and wool mix. In addition I’ve seen a lot more herringbone and some interesting variations on Donegal Tweed.
And texture can be found in some unexpected places, such as these boots which go by the name of Sherlock. Available in the autumn from Herring Shoes, these are top of my seasonal wish list. The combining of leather and suede in this fashion has been done by various bespoke shoe makers in recent seasons, but Herring offers a more affordable option.
Just a snap shot of the things we can look forward to in the coming seasons.
Posted in: Men's FashionMuslim designers mix the hijab with latest fashions
How do you combine Western fashion with a Muslim dress code?
Fashion is a form of self-expression. It's all about experimenting with looks and, in many cases, attracting attention.
The Islamic headscarf, or hijab, is exactly the opposite. It's about modesty and attracting as little attention as possible.
However, a growing number of Muslim women are successfully blending the two.
They get inspiration from the catwalk, the high street and fashion magazines, and they give it a hijab-friendly twist - making sure that everything except the face and hands are covered.
They are known as Hijabistas.
Jana Kossiabati is editor of the blog Hijab Style, which gets as many as 2,300 visits a day from across the world, including Africa, Middle East and the United States.
"I started two-and-a-half years ago," says Jana, who is British of Lebanese origin.
"I'd seen so many fashion blogs and so many Muslim blogs but hadn't seen anything specifically dedicated to the way Muslim women dress.
"I started my own site to bring together elements of what Muslim women are looking for and to make mainstream fashion wearable and relevant to them."
Fitting in
Jana says one of the reasons why so many young Muslim women are reading hijab fashion blogs is that the Muslim fashion industry is lacking inspiration.
"I get comments on my blog from people saying that the clothes offered to Muslim women are too Islamic looking - they look very ethnic, very foreign," says Jana.
"Young Muslims are increasingly looking for fashion that doesn't set them apart from the rest of society."
According to Jana, events such as 9/11 and 7/7 also had an effect on fashion-conscious Muslim women.
"Our generation became more aware of their identity when were thrust into the limelight after 9/11 and 7/7 and other events of the past decade or so. We were forced to deal with people questioning our faith, our identity and the way we look."
This may have prompted some women to choose to wear the hijab - but it also increased the urge among many young hijab-wearing women to fit in.
ExperimentationHana Tajima Simpson is a fashion designer who converted to Islam five years ago.
In the beginning, she found it very hard to find her own style while following hijab rules.
"I lost a lot of my personality through wearing the hijab at first. I wanted to stick to one mould and look a certain way," says Hana, who comes from a British and Japanese background.
"There was a certain idea I had in my head about how a Muslim woman should look which is the black Abaya (baggy dress and scarf), but I realised that this is not true and that I could experiment with my looks, while being modest.
"It took a lot of trial and error to a find a style and a look I'm happy with."
Hana regularly blogs about her designs at Style Covered. While all her clothes are suitable for women who wear the hijab, she says she doesn't design with a specific group of people in mind.
"Frankly I design for myself.
"I think about what I'd like to wear and design it. I have many non-Muslim customers as well, so my designs are not targeted at Muslims alone."
CelebrationDesigner Sarah Elenany's clothes are quite different from Hana's - more urban and sporty.
Islamic prints feature heavily on almost all of her outfits, including images of minarets and hands being extended to the heavens in prayer. They are religious, but far from traditional.
"My label is a celebration of Islamic culture and art and it's not apologetic. It says' this is it, this is us. I wanted to design prints and clothes that Muslims could look at and instantly identify with," says Sarah.
But doesn't the showy nature of fashion contradict the essence of Hijab?
Sarah disagrees. Fashion is about expression "and this is a legitimate part of Islam," she says.
Jana adds, "Islam doesn't prescribe rigid rules of colour or style it just says these are the areas you need to cover, the rest is really up to you."
Posted in: Trend MuslimMoslem Dress Kids
Moslem clothing for children aged 12 -15 years. Made of cotton and very soft and comfortable. designed to cover a very beautiful head. Suitable for various kinds of hijab. On the neck there are ornate patchwork featuring the beauty of this outfit. There are parts of the edge at the bottom of the shirt. available in two colors,red and green. sizes available are 43/100cm. Clothing prices is around $ 100.
Islamic Fashions 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.
The Kebaya, Indonesia's very own clothing style
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.”
Posted in: Trend MuslimThe Mecca of Muslim Fashion
Melbourne. On pilgrimages to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Indonesian Muslims are not only carrying out haj rituals, says a chief editor of a woman’s magazine. They have also unintentionally become real life models of Indonesian Islamic fashion, she says. Jetti R. Hadi, the editor in chief of NooR, a magazine specializing in Muslim fashion, said that during the haj a lot of people complemented Indonesians’ attire. “People would say, ‘Oh, you have such beautiful clothes’. The women always look attractive,” she said recently. As the most-populous Muslim country, with a growing number of women opting to wear the jilbab or headscarves, Muslim fashion has emerged as a promising industry in Indonesia, with many designers focusing on clothes and accessories that adheres to Islamic principles of covering the skin and hair of women. In the international fashion scene, Muslim wear and accessories in the coming years is projected to reach 20 percent of the total fashion industry, which was worth US$1.7 trillion in 2008, according to Jetti. While none of the Muslim countries are capitalizing on this, those in the Indonesian fashion field are set to make Indonesia the “Mecca” of Muslim fashion, Jetti said. The government, realizing the various designers of Muslim wear, who combine colorful Indonesian fabrics of batik and ikat with interesting cloth design — distinguishing itself from Middle Eastern countries style Muslim clothes of dark abayas, burqas, and niqabs — are currently joining forces with the industry to promote the country’s Islamic fashion. The Culture and Tourism Ministry last week held Gala dinner events in Auckland, New Zealand, and Melbourne, Australia with a contemporary dance troupe, Batavia Dance Studio, and two Muslim fashion brands, Up2date and Bilqis, to promote the country as a Muslim fashion shopping destination. The Jakarta Post joined the tour by invitation from the Culture and Tourism Ministry. Having a limited budget for promotion — the Indonesian tourism promotional budget for 2010 is Rp 426 billion ($47 million), the tourism ministry is aiming for targeted marketing strategies, such as the Gala dinner and Muslim fashion show. The ones in Auckland and Melbourne, the Culture and Tourism Ministry director general of marketing Sapta Nirwandar said, were organized to attract the Muslim community from the two cities. Indonesia aims to attract 7 million visitors for 2010. In his speech at the Melbourne Gala dinner, Sapta said the ministry wanted to voice that Indonesia had a diverse culture. “We don’t want to discriminate other religions or make Islam special,” he said. Sapta said the clothes showcased in Auckland and Melbourne hopefully could shed the “scary” image of Muslim wear. “The clothes are peaceful, stylish; an image that is not scary. There’s no boundaries between the one who wears the clothes and other people,” he said after the Gala dinner in Melbourne. More Indonesian women began to wear Islamic garb since the mid 1990s after the New Order regime eased religious repression in the pretext of national stability. Previously, civil servants, office workers and students were banned from wearing the jilbab. The toppling of Soeharto in 1998 that brought the reform era brought more freedom for people to express their religiosity. In recent years, religious symbols were seen as selling points for some political candidates, with posters of their jilbab clad wives displayed during election campaign time. Along with the political changes, the fashion industry has started to supply stylish designs for Muslim fashion, giving more choices for women who are thinking of buying Muslim wear.
Not just a veil: Muslim fashion brand Up2date designer Lia Triana puts an ikat accessory on a model’s veiled head, at the Gala dinner and Muslim fashion show in Auckland on June 16.
The growing market and the many fashion shows that include Islamic fashion categories have influenced mainstream designers to produce Islamic fashion. Established names such as Ghea Panggabean, Sebastian Gunawan and Itang Yunasz design Muslim fashion aside from their mainstream designs.
Jetti said that now in Indonesia, Muslim fashion designs were incredibly rich. “It’s very colorful and you can see from the different types of head covers the wide range of choices. There are jilbabs that are very tight, there are also loose ones that cover the chest,” she said.
Indonesian women who opt to wear the jilbab have various choices of fashionable clothes, Jetti said. “This makes Indonesian Muslims not feel frumpish. They feel fashionable,” she said.
She said that people from Malaysia and Singapore, look at Indonesia for fashionable Muslim wear. She said that Muslim communities in Middle East, Europe and Australia could be tapped through rigorous promotion.
Last week’s Gala dinner was Melbourne’s second and a first for Auckland. Last year the tourism ministry brought Muslim fashion designer prodigy Dian Pelangi and veteran designer Iva Latifah to Melbourne.
This year Bandung-based Up2date represented the more youthful designs while Surakarta-based Bilqis presented its signature glamorous and elegant batik pieces.
With the theme “Tenun Inspiration”, Up2date presented layers of structured designs with touches of ikat from different parts of Indonesia.
Colorful ikat were constructed as vests layered on top of spandex blouses. One model wore a batik cape that can be worn in different styles.
Lia Triana, Up2date designer, said that the idea was to create different and versatile pieces to mix and match. The result was interesting vests, capes and boleros to add character.
Tuti Adib, Bilqis owner and designer said her pieces centered on the idea of elegance and glamor using woven cloth, batik and sequins.
Partnering with batik craftsmen in Surakarta, she said the woven clothes were made using a traditional weaving machine, and the batik was handmade.
“Muslim fashion is not a trend. It’s a need for some people who want to cover their bodies,” she said
Australian market: Up2date co-owner Aju Isni Karim checks out a dress at Muslim fashion store House of Emaan, in Melbourne, Australia.
“I try to make clothes that not only serve the function of covering the body, but that has a sense of art in them,” she said.
The response to the clothes varied between Auckland and Melbourne. In Auckland, Bev Wallace who was present at the gala dinner said that she was impressed with the design and fabrics. Asked whether she would wear any of the designs, Wallace paused and said, “I honestly don’t know.”
In Melbourne, however, the audience rushed backstage to purchase the clothes presented at the show.
Laura Anderson, the chairman
Laura Anderson, the chairman
of L’oreal Melbourne Fashion Week, wearing a Dian Pelangi design blue batik coat that she sourced from last year’s event, said that clothes designed for Islamic fashion had beautiful choices of jackets
and coats.
and coats.
She said that Indonesia’s attempt to be the hub of Islamic Fashion was possible only if there were easy channels to market it. “That’s obviously through retail chains and special boutiques… There’s also the online channel. I think that’s the key to bring the clothes from textile manufacturers to end consumers,” she said.
The show in Melbourne did open up channels to the Melbourne market with Up2date and Bilqis meeting with Melbourne-based Muslim fashion store owners, one being Indonesian-owned House of Eeman.
Zurlia Ismail, owner of House of Eeman, said that she imported clothes from Jakarta, Surakarta, Malang and Surabaya.
“Our customers vary from people from North Africa to the Middle East as well as Southeast Asia,
such as Singapore and Malaysia,” she said.
such as Singapore and Malaysia,” she said.
Sapta, who has several times promoted Indonesian tourism through its fashion and food, said that it was part of cultural diplomacy. Last April, the tourism ministry held a one-month Indonesia exhibition at London’s most prestigious shopping center Harrods.
The next step from the tourism ministry to establish Indonesia as a shopping destination for Muslim fashion is a yearly Islamic fashion fair in Jakarta that will debut next year.
The ministry is currently preparing a yearly Indonesia Islamic Fashion Fair, collaborating with the Indonesian Fashion Designers Association, NooR and fashion boutique, Shafira House, aiming to make Indonesia the center of the world’s Muslim fashion by 2020.
“People used to go to Singapore to shop. Now we want people come to Jakarta for that,” she said.
Posted in: Trend Muslim
