The Dazzling Start of Jakarta Fashion Week 2008
Jakarta - 21 August 2008

The grounds of Pacific Place bustled with stylish magazine editors clad in their uniform of Big Apple black, local and foreign media carrying their press passes and models with immaculate hair and makeup flitting about in their ballet flats. The air pulsated with the excitement of Festival Mode Indonesia – Jakarta Fashion Week 2008’s opening night.

FMI – JFW 2008 Opening Night’s Head Organizer, Tenik Hartono stated, “we hope this evening will run smoothly with everything in place because tonight signals the beginning of a massive show that will last for four days. It involves a lot of elements, from the government sector and the fashion organizations such as APPMI (Indonesian Fashion Designers Association) and IPMI (Indonesian Fashion Designer Council) to independent and international designers. The event is not a formal one but we hope it signify a good start for the days to follow.”

Without a doubt, FMI – JFW 2008 magnificently unfolded with dancers in edgy contemporary Betawi dances, choreographed by Hartati. Leaping and pirouetting to the powerfully energetic rhythm produced a fusion of instruments encompassing of the tambur from Minang, the Javanese gong beri, didgeridoo from Australia, West African djembe drums, gendang drums from Betawi, pui’-pui’ of Sulawesi and sarunai, a metallophone from the Philippines. Performing the introductions and leading the show was Sari Nila, the show’s emcee while plush rectangular seats in bold pink and orange peppered the stage area, providing the audience with colourful viewing comfort. Media mogul, financial executives, and the upper circles of society mingled with movie stars and models under the plein-air tent. Mirta Kartohadiprodjo, CEO of Femina Group, welcomed the eager crowd prior to the presentation of the key people involved in making FMI – JFW 2008 possible which included Svida Alisjahbana, COO of Femina Group and Chairman of FMI – JFW 2008; Taruna K Kusmayadi, Head of APPMI; and Dipl. Des. Sjamsidar Isa, President of IPMI. Joining them onstage were bu Mirta herself, Arie Budhiman, Head of the Tourism Office of Jakarta; Dr Mari Pangestu, Minister of Trade and Mrs Fauzi Bowo.

Governor of DKI Jakarta, Fauzi Bowo, peformed the honours of officially opening the show with a speech declaring his hopes that Jakarta Fashion Week will be the biggest fashion show of South East Asia. “The local government of Jakarta will strive to facilitate and support this event as best we can every year. This is my promise for I am certain fashion is one of the bastions of the creative industry in our country,” he said.

Once the Governor opened the floodgates to the show, a line-up of 17 designers and their muses sashayed down the pristine white runway. Reading like a who’s who list of fashion, the names included the iconic and novel faces of Lenny Augustin, Hengki Kawilarang, Jeanny Ang, Jazz Pasay, Harry Ibrahim, Feny Mustafa, Rebecca Ing, Anne Rufaidah, Carmanita, Stephanus Hamy, Priyo Oktaviano, Kanaya Tabitha, Ari Seputra, Valentino Napitupulu, Liliana Lim, Ghea Panggabean, and Australian designer, Aime Cristie. Each muse finely and elegantly swathed in creations so characteristic of each designer walked hand-in-hand with the creators of their attire.

Earlier in the day, the press lounge was abuzz as final preparations were underway and a press conference held in the late afternoon included a panel consisting of Svida Alisjahbana, Arie Budhiman, Taruna K Kusmayadi, Dipl. Des. Sjamsidar Isa, Danielle Pearce, Pacific Place Representative and Martin Newbery, Regional Director of the Indonesian Trade Office Government of Western Australia. The panel was at hand to answer questions posed by local and foreign media concerning this monumental affair. Svida Alisjahbana introduced FMI – JFW 2008 as a journey. “Tonight is the commencement of that journey and this is the first step.”

Rallying behind her, Arie Budhiman said, “This event is not only about the capital city. This is an event that is supported by all stakeholders of the fashion industry in Jakarta. We placed FMI – JFW 2008 in the calendar of events for the city and promoted it locally as well as overseas through the Tourism Office of Jakarta’s media promotion channels.  We are certain that the support, which has already been tremendous, will only strengthen the event for both consumers and buyers. Our aim is for FMI – JFW 2008 to be not only an attractive event but also one that can boost the economy further. “