Bali News / Island’s News Updates

Fashionistas will not be the only group of people who will be entertained by the four-days Bali Fashion Week, which begins next Monday. The event committee has prepared a plethora of events to entertain people from all walks of life. Beginning from 4 p.m. on Monday, a carnival of models wrapped in unique designer clothes is scheduled to stroll Kuta beach. The carnival will move along Jl. Melasti to Jl. Legian and then to Jl. Pantai Kuta before ending at 6 p.m. on the beach in front of Hard Rock Hotel.

Famous designers, such as Doii, a Korean-born designer based in Paris; Hu She Guang, who has designed clothes for the Queen of Holland; Mich Dulce from the Philippines; Selphie Bong, who has been called the “Indonesian Christian Dior-to-be”; and famous Indonesian designer Oka Diputra, are just some of the designers who are slated to show their designs in the carnival.

Participants can join in the Sunset Beach Party and partake in a string of competitions, like the Yamaha fashion photo competition, model contests and a battle of the DeeJays with the winners set to receive prizes from Samsung. The party will also feature the Rice Girls, a new music sensation from Australia. “Up to this moment, we have more than 1,000 participants already listed for the carnival,” said Budiarti, the project coordinator of the 2008 Bali Fashion Week, on Wednesday.

From Tuesday to Thursday, participants can witness a series of fashion shows displaying casual, evening and beach wear designed by various rising and established designers at Lotus Pond in Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) cultural park, Jimbaran. Meanwhile, the more business-minded fashion enthusiasts can join in the trade exhibition held at another venue of the GWK compound. The trade exhibition boasts, among others, a seminar by WGSN, a leading analysts in the fashion, trend, color and fabric industry on the spring and summer fashion of 2009, and a discussion forum by Indonesian and International designers.

Starting at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday next week, participants can party as models and designers mingle after a fashion show event at the Hard Rock Hotel’s center stage. Bali Fashion Week is an annual international trade event conducted by the ModaBali Foundation that combines fashion, art and culture. The event, which was first held in 2000 and was initiated by noted designer Mardiana Ika, is used as a platform for buyers and sellers to meet and discuss potential business relationships.

“As an island that is full of inspiration, Bali also displays various arts & traditions from different parts of Indonesia that are attractive to both the domestic and international markets,” Budiarta said. She added the event’s theme of “fashion meets nature” was derived from a Balinese philosophy “Tri Hita Karana” (Three in Harmony), or keeping balance and peace between God, human beings and the environment. “This interesting theme will pit top international and local designers alike to stretch their creative imagination to the limit in producing award-winning designs based on their understanding of Tri Hita Karana,” she said.

More than 450 international fashion buyers and those in related industries are expected to gather in Bali to partake in the event. “And that’s not a small number, which is a testament of the prestige of Bali Fashion Week 2008,” Budiarti said.

Written by Andra Wisnu
Published by The Jakarta Post - thejakartapost.com