Unfading Beauty That Transcends Time
Ikat Weaving's beauty can be summed up in one word: multifaceted. It exudes a presence that is both vivid and complex. When put together, these pieces of this Indonesian fabric can have many different meanings, connotations, and symbols that can send a profound message. On the other hand, we can understand the beauty of ikat more straightforwardly by thinking of it as clothing that shows where the person who wears it comes from.
Moving on from clothing worn on a day-to-day basis, traditional fabrics, including ikat weaving, are becoming increasingly out of fashion in today's modern times. There is a sentiment or idea that wearing them makes one look archaic, that it is only appropriate for people of a certain age, and that they should only be worn for specific events.
However, with the help of the social networking app, which started in 2021, users of traditional clothes with modest adjustments to look more trendy are participating in the "Berkain Bersama" challenge, which involves using traditional fabrics and creating a trend among young people. The fact that this trend is still going strong is an excellent way to remind more youthful people to protect Indonesian culture. Not only do these young people present their whole outfits made out of native Indonesian fabrics on social media platforms, but they also use these materials in their day-to-day lives.
Also, the contemporary fashion subgenre has started to form because society and young people, in particular, are becoming increasingly aware. This subgenre of fashion uses traditional fabrics to create playful pieces of clothing that young people love, which can continue to enhance the beauty of ikat weaving. It is interesting to note that many local fashion brands are starting to spring right now with this concept, which is rapidly expanding thanks to the trend of #Berkain! This creates a whole new way to keep cultural traditions alive by combining them with modern tailoring techniques to make them fresh, popular, and part of popular culture.