May 31, 2015

Batik Statement Fashionshow II


Photo used in the news online
Photo by Peter van Hoek

Backstage ready for the show, photo by me

On Sunday 17 May I gave a second Batik Statement Fashionshow. It was two year ago that I was invited by the same organization of Festival Budaya where I made my first fashionshow, the Batik Statement Fashionshow. A lot has happend in that short period of time, and it was so nice to prepare a new show again. My love for Batik keeps on growing and when Vlisco is making posts about their heritage with Batik, believe me, Batik is becoming trendy! So the perfect moment to make a Batik Statement! 
I was lucky to borrow some nice Batiks from Marlisa, most of which are being sold at Taman Indonesia, and have her as an extra model. We shared a stall that day showing our love for Batik and selling some Batik products. And I'm looking forward continuing that!
In December I got a sewing machine so I made a lot of new Batik bows with matching Bintang bottle-cap earrings, which you can spot on the models. But I also made two t-shirts, one with 'KARTINI' and one with 'CARP'. These two ladies represent for me the empowerment of Batik and had to be presented at this show. I thought it would be a nice idea showing them as a brandname, making the letters out of Batik-fabric. A nice experiment and it was noticed by people in the audience, who complimented me on it later, so something to continue working on.
For the actual wrapping of the Batik Statements I used some classics and ones I used before. For my 'grand piece' that Marlisa was wearing I used 5 Batiks. I really want to experiment more with that, wrapping layer over layer, so lets see what kind of statements I make for the next fashionshow.

Wednesday I visited the Tong Tong Fair looking for Batik and portraying men wearing batik blouses. I was yet again disappointed about the lack of real batik (with real Batik I mean Batik Tulis, made with canting or cap). Every stall was filled with printed batiks, except one (Rumah Batik Koe, at the Indonesia Paviljoen, lovely batik sarong & clothing). And of the people wearing batik, only a few wore handmade Batik.
Feeling bummed out about this, I got the nicest surprise when I got home and checked my social media. I was thanked by a very talented Batik entrepreneur. "Really appreciate your continuous support to promote batik Indonesia in Netherlands. I'm very happy to read the news. Thank you so much Sabine...". My Batik Statement Fashionshow somehow reached the Indonesian news. The article "Ketika Noni-noni Belanda Lenggak-lenggok Berbatik" writes about the show in detail and mentioned that Batik is being used as a nice summer outfit in the Netherlands. It was and is still such a nice surprise and it makes me really happy that I can show people here and in Indonesia that we need to support and above all enjoy Batik. And keep up the good work! I'm proud of all the Batikmakers in Indonesia who continue making Batik Tulis and I hope I can help a little in that proces.

I gathered and selected the photos made of the Batik Statement Fashion in Best (NL). Thanks photographers for sharing them! And what you can not see on the photos is that the music was performed live by Chanelsy Moniharapon. He gave the models a nice percussion beat to walk on, thanks again for that!
Enjoy the Batik Statement Fashionshow II!

Photo by Arie van der Spoel

Photo by Peter van Hoek

Model is wearing KARTINI-shirt 
(freedomfighter and Batikmaker Raden Adjeng Kartini, (1879 – 1904), Batik origami brooch, headwrap by The wrap Life & Batik bow
Photo by Yola Vandergunst

Photo by Yola Vandergunst

Photo by Yola Vandergunst

Photo by Arie van der Spoel

Model is wearing CARP-shirt
(Batikmaker Maria Paulina Carp (1860 - 1897)
Photo by Yola Vandergunst

Marlisa is wearing a layered Batik Statement made out of 5 Batiks
Photo by Arie van der Spoel

Photo by Yola Vandergunst

Photo by Arie van der Spoel

Photo by Arie van der Spoel

Photo by Arie van der Spoel

Photo by Arie van der Spoel

Photo by Arie van der Spoel


Reference to and to read more:

- Article "Ketika Noni-noni Belanda Lenggak-lenggok Berbatik" on news.detik.co
- First Batik Statement Fashionshow on 21 April 2013 
- Post by Vlisco about Batik, "Travel back in time with us, Our Heritage" on v-inspired.vlisco.com
- Post on De reis naar Batik about printed Batiks and how to recognize a real Batik, 'The real deal'
- Post on De reis naar Batik about Raden Adjeng kartini, 'Hari Kartini
- Post on De reis naar Batik about Maria Paulina Carp, 'Give honor to whom it’s due