FASHION — The Jogja Fashion Week (JFW) 2024 Exhibition and Fashion Show was officially opened on Thursday (22/8/2024). The opening ceremony was marked by the emphasis of the momento by the Secretary of the Special Region of Yogyakarta Benny Suharsono accompanied by the Empress of the Paku Alaman Duchy KGBRAA Paku Alam.
The activity which lasted until Sunday (25/8/2024) was filled with a Fashion Exhibition, as well as a Fashion Show from local designers, national designers and was complemented by the appearance of works by 3 fashion designers from Australia.
The Australian Chargé d’Affaires to Indonesia Gita Gamath said that the appearance of the Australian designers was part of the celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Indonesia. This initiative was led by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Australian Embassy, the Victorian government and the Yogyakarta provincial government.
Australian designer Josh Dean, Nikki Edgar and Zhao Canwen is out and about when studying the art of batik learning about this culturally important texture from batik artisans in Yogyakarta the three made their debut on the Indonesian runway at Jogja Fashion Week on August 22, showcasing their collection incorporating locally made batik during their two-week residency .
The Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Siti Maulidya, and the Australian Deputy Chief of Staff to Indonesia, Madeline Most, introduced their work on the runway.
“This program test celebrates creative diversity and highlights the strong ties between the creative communities of our two countries” said the Australian charge d’affaires for Indonesia Gita Kamath
Kamath further said that fashion is one of the largest industries in the world, therefore the unique cultural exchange carried out by Australia with Indonesian designers in Yogyakarta will encourage future collaboration in this important sector.
The reasons for featuring these 3 designers from Australia include: Josh Dean is an emerging indigenous artist known for his vibrant artwork ,Nikki Edgar is known for her ready-to-wear and performative style work while Zhao Can Wen is known for her general work in film costumes and illustration.
On another occasion, Australian expert Doctor Tassia Joanides as Interim Associate Dean in the field of fashion and textile design from RMIT University will also share expertise on entering the Australian fashion market in the business sector which will be held on August 23 as part of Jogja Fashion
