A Love Triangle: Batik, Indonesia and Australia

Luring Indonesians to wear and purchase their pride Batik? Now that’s an easy thing! Try attracting foreigners, particularly my Australian mates, to wear Batik, now that is what I call a challenge!

Why? Because what I learned from witnessing the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia (MBFWA) in Sydney recently and also from massive display of talented designers in Down Under, Australians are more keen in wearing neutral and monochrome colored outfits. If they do wear patterned dresses or shirts, they mostly wear these ones for Spring/Summer. Their choice of patterns are sublime and delicate. While, for Autumn/Winter which the season that Australians are currently experiencing, they would opt for darker color outfits, e.g. maroon, dark brown, anthracite and surely, the ubiquitous black.

All the abovementioned elements are in contrast with Indonesian pride Batik which is generally rich in pattern and color. “I have a range of dresses with each color of the rainbow”, as boldly stated by a dear friend of mine in Melbourne to illustrate her wide collection of outfits. Well, darling, if only you knew that all colors which are blended into Indonesian Batik would actually make any rainbow blush and envy, honey!

Aside from soga-colored (dark brownish), Indonesian Batik pieces are known for their vibrant color. In addition, an intricate pattern is usually one of the most determining factors for Indonesian in purchasing Batik –the more intricate the pattern on Batik cloth the more likely Indonesians will purchase and wear it-.

I believe that challenges, no matter how profound they may look like, can actually turn into opportunities! Naturally, I tried to change the immense challenge into a golden opportunity in introducing Indonesian Batik to the fashionable key decision makers and influencers of Australian mode industry at the Sydney’s Fashion Week.

Firstly, as in any introduction of a love interest, try to introduce Indonesian Batik as subtle as possible. In my case, rather than wearing a vibrant colored and intricate patterned Batik shirt or trousers, I chose to wear a Batik mlutch (men’s clutch) as the key accessory in attending the first day of the show. The color of the mlutch is Mediterranean blue which is a preferred color by all fashion people from Paris to Milan, from New York to Sydney. Observe also that the pattern on my Batik mlutch is a less intricate and flowery pattern than a traditional Batik. At the end of the day, my Batik mlutch served not only as the key accessory but also as the determining factor of my overall look. In short, the blue Batik mlutch worn over an anthracite jacket and maroon bow tie as well as check patterned jumper proved to be a winning look as those who came across me in the first day of the show kept on asking where did I get the Batik mlutch from?

Secondly, as I swooned over the fashion people with my look on the first day, I decided to introduce more of Indonesian Batik. I put on a dark blue cardigan, which back part is made from vintage Tiga Negeri Batik (Three Cities Batik), on the top of a Tiga Negeri Batik shirt. In its front part, the cardigan features hand-sewn applique of Birds pattern taken from the Batik. Cardigan, if not worn nicely, has that aging effect on the wearer. So, in order to retain youthful look, I combined the top pieces with a pale yellow trousers and completed with a black leather mlutch.

The result on my overall look was rave comments by fellow spectators and those key influencers at the show. Some of them were asking me about the cutie two birds on the front part of my cardigan. Others were complimenting the Batik on the back part of my cardigan.

In short, remember Indonesians, the key to make your Batik pieces work in front of an international audience is not by wearing them in a full throttle way. The choice of pattern and color is also essential. Our main goal is to make a lasting impression that Batik is modern and wearable fashion ensemble and not an over-crowded patterned and un-wearable too colorful outfits. Therefore, Batik pieces that we put on should be worn with such grace and subtlety.

Now, kindly take a closer look again at JET’s look on the fashion week, and I’m sure you’ll agree with me that the challenge was not just turned into a golden opportunity. JET has transformed the challenge into a super hot love triangle between Batik, Australians and Indonesians.

#jetfashiondiplomacy #jetgoestombfwa #didietmaulana #ikatindonesia #novitavillanueva #envybatik #batiktiganegeri #indonesianbatik #commedesgarcons

JET’s Day One Fashion Ensemble:

Indonesian Batik Mlutch: Envy Batik by Novita Villanueva

Bow tie: James Squire

Jacket: Barbour

Skinny track trousers: Industrie

Shoes: Zara

JET’s Day Two Fashion Ensemble:

Indonesian Batik cardigan: Ikat Indonesia by Didiet Maulana

Clutch: Comme des Garcons

Skinny trousers: Zara

Shoes: Clarks