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Written by Putri Ivana Yasmine, 31 August 2022
Local woman in Maumere City, Sikka Regency selling traditional hand-woven Tenun Ikat. Image from: Bastian AS
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.
The Age of Diversity by Oscar Lawalata Culture. Image from: Rasa Wastra Indonesia taken by Angga Amukti Praja.
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.
The people showed off their diverse range of mixed and matched traditional garments through the event "Pesta Wastra", held by Swara Gembira, a platform and community of Indonesian art and culture enthusiasts. Image from: Remaja Nusantara taken by Stephan Rachmad
Items from a local youth fashion brand that incorporates traditional textile elements into modern pieces. Image from: Roro Line
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.
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