Elevating cultural features in the fashion industry so that they are increasingly recognized internationally is a mission that is currently being echoed by Ian Adrian. Ian revealed that textiles in Indonesia have various motifs and cultures that can be maintained and developed.
"I really have a mission to raise Indonesian cultural patterns in the fashion industry in the international market, of course with the cultural motifs of each region," he said.
Ian explained that he had produced works with a distinctive cultural style from the Doyo Ulap cloth, which is a pandan fiber woven cloth typical of the Dayak Benuaq tribe, East Kalimantan.
"Doyo Ulap cloth has an authentic and special charm. This typical Kalimantan textile material has great potential to be developed in the national fashion industry," he said.
Ian added that he had also introduced fashion works from Doyo's typical East Kalimantan woven cloth to several international fashion shows in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia.
"In the future I also want to re-elevate other East Kalimantan cultural styles into his clothing works, such as East Kalimantan Batik and Samarinda Weaving Sarongs," he explained.
Its mission is not only to elevate textiles with regional cultural patterns into the national fashion market. However, it also introduces fashion products from the region's textile materials to the international market.
"To develop the local fashion industry, cooperation between the local government and fashion designers is needed. So that local craftsmen get facilities to develop their work to the international market," he hoped.
Ian Adrian also hopes that if it is facilitated by the central government, in this case, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemeparekraf) can further help introduce local works to the global market.
"For example, I used to work with the Kukar Regional Government (Kutai Kartanegara, ed) to develop Doyo Ulap cloth in the national fashion industry," he recalls.
Unfortunately, during the pandemic, several national and international fashion events were delayed. National fashion events such as Indonesia Fashion Week and Jakarta Fashion Week were held virtually.
However, the echo is not as big as if it was held directly. So, Ian hopes that fashion shows or similar fashion events can be held again offline soon.
According to Ian, fashion shows are a place for fashion designers to introduce their work. As well as introducing the mecca of Indonesian fashion to the world.
According to him, Indonesia has the originality of fashion works that are different from other countries.
The condition of Indonesia as a tropical country gives designers the opportunity to explore fashion works with various colors.
“We have our own unique trend. Unlike Europe and America, which have four fashion trends for winter, autumn, spring, and summer. We are tropical, so it is more natural and colorful,” he said.
Indonesian textile materials are also very rich and of high quality. Among them, such as batik cloth, weaving, jumputan, lurik, and other textile materials that are not owned by other countries. It is a special feature in Indonesian fashion works.
Ian, who has had a career in the Indonesian fashion industry since 1996, is committed to continuing to develop local cultural features into his fashion designs.
In the near future, he will collaborate with novice fashion designers to hold unique and interesting fashion events. Become a breakthrough for the country's fashion industry.
Ian is known to always present fashion shows that are different from other fashion designers. He has held fashion events on trains, prisons, and the Banjarmasin floating market. All three, won an award from the Indonesian World Record Museum (MURI).
"Just pray, hopefully the pandemic can pass soon, and we can hold a similar fashion event in the near future," concluded Ian Adrian.
