Indonesia

The Fashion Statement: Indonesian Designer Meets First Lady

This was a big week for Indonesian fashion designers. Not only did the President Obama make a stop in Jakarta, but he touched down right in the middle of Jakarta's fashion week. While the President was praising the ideals of democracy and development at the University of Indonesia, local designers were sending a parade of pieces down the runways hoping to establish Jakarta as a fashion hub in Asia. Backed by the Indonesian Fashion Designers Association, the goal is to catapult Indonesian designers to the international stage. So far they've mostly had success at home. Until now...

The Jakarta Globe reported this week that one designer hit the jackpot. Priyo Oktaviano snagged a chance to present the U.S. First Lady with one of his designs, a face-to-face meeting most stateside designers would KILL for! Oktaviano, who worked for Balenciaga early on in his career and is known for quirky and edgy designs, said he was contacted only six days prior to the meeting. He had one day to make a dress and a coat and he looked up Mrs. Obama's size on the Internet.

Tags: Indonesia, Jakarta Fashion Week, Mrs. Obama, President Obama, Priyo Oktaviano, Rihanna, Victoria Beckham Dresses

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New Book Traces The History of Indonesian Textiles

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art, Books

Mary Hunt Kahlenberg is a women with a passion for textiles. She formerly served as Curator of Textiles and Costumes at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Textile Museum in Washington, D.C. and is one of the top authorities on the subject. her latest book, Five Centuries of Indonesian Textiles, introduces readers to the intoxicating and complex beauty of Indonesian cloth. The book looks at five centuries of ceremonial garments and sacred textiles from throughout Indonesia's chain of tropical islands. The book is a compilation of the work of a select group of experts sharing their cumulative knowledge and scholarship. The book also represents a visual tour de force of a very personal collection of over 350 Indonesian ceremonial garments and sacred textiles assembled over a thirty year period by Mary Hunt Kahlenberg.

It was much more than a "labor of love" for her when it came time to writing about and editing a book on her own collection of Indonesian Textiles. These textiles have consistently fascinated her before her first visit to Indonesia and grew as she traveled and studied more about Indonesian culture. The book and essays reveal the experts' extensive knowledge of Indonesia's history, culture, geography and religious evolution. DelMonico Books – Prestel has published the book with 300 color illustrations in 408 pages in a hard cover slip case that creates a beautiful showcase for the wide range of textile innovations in Sumatra, Java, Bali, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara and Maluku.

"We are very fortunate to have received a generous grant that allowed us to create the kind of book that few art historians ever have the opportunity to offer for under $100. The book delves into the aesthetic experience, both tactile and visual, as well as its historic, anthropological and spiritual qualities. "For me, the pleasure of the information between the fingers is one of my great joys in studying textiles," Kahlenberg says. "The other connection I feel is very important is knowing that this textile was made by someone and used by someone.....it communicates the sense of the individual and their life." The book sells for $95.

Gallery: Five Centuries of Indonesian Textiles

Tags: art book, coffee table books, indonesia, textiles

Ultra Modern Resort Captures the Soul of Old Bali

by Nikhil Hutheesing (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

As a winter chill hits much of the country, the Alila Villas Soori resort in Bali could be just what you need to extend summer a little. The resort, a newcomer to Bali, is located far from the crowded tourist zone of Kuta and Seminyak, where many franchise hotels are located.

Its designer and owner, Soo Chan, a renowned architect based in Singapore, opted to build this new, five star resort in the Tabanan Regency, one of Bali's most beautiful areas, on the remote southwest coast of the island.

Alila Villas Soori, located near the island's famous Tanah Lot Temple and the acclaimed Nirwana Golf Course, is stunning. The resort, which has a ten bedroom residence with its own spa, gym and helicopter landing pad, is ideal for intimate weddings. While Chan says his resort aims to capture the "soul of old Bali" it offers 46 ultra modern villas surrounded by volcanic mountains, rice fields and black sand beaches.

Gallery: Alila Villas Soori: Bali Luxury Villas

Tags: Alila Villas Soori, Awards-main, Bali, bali resorts, Indonesia, Luxist-Awards, Soo Chan

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Kamandalu Resort's "Eat Pray Love" Package

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The "Eat Pray Love" frenzy continues and for those who have been inspired to set off on their own soul-searching adventure in Indonesia Kamandalu Resort has come up with their own version of Elizabeth Gilbert's story. The "Eat Pray Love" package starts with your choice of private luxury villa (Garden, Pool, or Deluxe Pool) and includes a variety of goodies all for both you and a guest including daily breakfast, cycling to see the Eat Pray Love movie sets in nearby Ubud, a romantic Italian dinner in the garden, 30 minute spa treatments for each of you, an outdoor activity of your choice (trekking, cycling, village or Royal Palace visit), and a trip to see Elizabeth Gilbert's palm reader. Plus plenty of extras like bottled water in the room, comfy robes and slippers, transportation, and free drinks and coupons at the lounge.

The package is available from September 2010 thru July 2011 and sounds like a nice balance of experiencing the movie's theme while still leaving room for a personalized experience, and if you were really inspired by the movie you can enter their contest and potentially win a trip for free. Otherwise there's a minimum two night stay required with rates ranging from $280 - $440/night, depending on which villa you choose. Let yourself go!

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Tags: Eat Pray Love, indonesia, travel, ubud

Angela Lindvall's John Hardy Ad Campaign

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Charity, Green

Model Angela Lindvall appears in John Hardy's new Fall 2010 ads but it's more than just an ad placement. Lindvall is an eco-minded activist who worked with John Hardy creative director Guy Bedarida to create her own jewelry collection. The line, called Hijau ("green" in Indonesian), is a new interpretation of the bamboo theme with cuffs, earrings and bangles made from recycled and sustainable silver embellished with black sapphire and white topaz. Ten percent of the proceeds go to Forest Ethics, an organization that protects wildlife and forests in North America. There is also a charm bracelet made from a woven cotton organic cotton cord with a sterling silver bamboo charm accented with a small green tsavorite gem. All of the proceeds from this $95 bracelet go to Forest Ethics. The video above shows some behind the scenes details of Lindvall's Bali visit and her photoshoot for the new ad campaign.

Tags: angela lindvall, bali, forest ethics, indonesia, john hardy

Vacheron Constantin Les Masques Watches: The Final Collection

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

This is the third and final collection of "Les Masques" (the Masks) watches from Swiss watch maker Vacheron Constantin. The watches are in a limited edition of 25 sets, each with the four watches. My understanding is that you must get all four together. A few lucky people out there will have the entire collection of 12 Les Masques watches from all three collections. Each watch is 40mm wide and has a Vacheron Constantin in-house made automatic mechanical movement. The watches come in a different metal each including 18k yellow, pink, and white gold, as well as one watch in platinum.

For this collection the watches have been inspired from four new historic cultures. We have the pictured mask from China, as well as masks from Indonesia (Oceania), Gabon in Africa, as well as from Mexico. Each is done marvelously and by hand. The masks are incredibly hard to make taking a long time even from master craftspeople. Once a mistake is made, they often have to start all over again. Each watch has a different poem (in French) on the dial. Complications include the hours, minutes, date, and day - each displayed dia a disc visible on four corners of the watch. Really nice timepieces for those who connect with the emotion and history behind the masks and their respective cultures.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reivew site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Vacheron Constantin Les Masques Watches 2009

Tags: africa, china, collection, gabon, indonesia, les masques, LesMasques, masks, mexico, timepiece, vacheron constantin, VacheronConstantin, watch

The Green School, Charity of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity of the Day

A while back I mentioned that jeweler John Hardy had opened a eco-friendly hotel in Bali. But John and Cynthia Hardy are doing more for the area they love so much. They have created the Green School in Bali, Indonesia, a visionary new international school. The school, which is set to open in September, will have 80-100 students in the first year, teaching preschool and kindergarten through Year 8. The small classes will have a western-trained teacher, an Indonesian teacher and a teacher who is a recent college graduate participating in their New Teacher training program. The idea behind the school is to create a new model for 21st century learning with low student to teacher ratios, collaborative education, and a focus, not just on the fundamental basics but on the environment in Bali. The goal of the school is to empower children with information on all aspects of the world and how to make it a better place including information on everything from organic gardening to website design. The school is also being built of eco-friendly bamboo.

The school, which has a 20-acre campus, will also include the Learning Village, which is where handicrafts and various small enterprises, including an organic chocolate factory will provide entrepreneurial earning components for the students. The Learning Village is scheduled to be up and running next year.

The school is looking for help with scholarships,as well as help with the development of exchange programs with schools around the world. The school is also offering three-month internships to anyone who wants to help develop this unique place.

[via Fair Jewelry]

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Tags: bali, green school, indonesia, john hardy, JohnHardy