The dynamic duo, Clay Artists Arti Gidwani and Vibeke Lorentzen along with Indonesian designer Auguste Soesastro, celebrated the beauty of “celestial fashion” in a ready-to-wear collection.
Held at the Jakarta Room at Raffles Jakarta in May, “Celestial” fashion show presented 20 pieces of clothing, adorned with meticulous detailed clay jewellery from duo artists’ brand, Clayze. The realist shape based on the universe from variations of the moon, sun, star, planet, and cloud were assembled in silverworks, making the earthy clay come together with the twinkling mine.
Giwani and Lorentzen used the the natural colour spectrum of the universe including red, orange, yellow, blue, black, and white. The clean silhouettes and strong sartorial structure of the Keraton by Auguste Soesastro design, along with jewellery were like an architectural collection, as Gidwani described it.
“The clothes and jewellery come together beautifully. It’s minimum and maximum, married to each other. None overshadows the other. It’ simply complements his design, creating modern and elegant nuances. And it’s also easy to wear,” Gidwani said.
The unique construction of the jewellery meets the minimalism of the precise construction and detailed cuts from the Soesastro creation. Soesastro – whose prior collections are also inspired by architecture – unifies the look in a jacket, shirt, trouser, jumpsuit, and dress. The 20 new bags — made with leather and clay on the handle as well as on the surface— adds to the unique look, emphasising Clayze’s signature design.
Gidwani and Lorentzen successfully gave the show a warm atmosphere as many of their friends and colleagues from the expatriate community walked in the show. Hungary’s Ambassador, H.E Judit Németh-Pach looked stunning in decrustructed headpiece jewelry emblematic of an Indian bride. Ambassador of the Netherlands, H.E. Rob Swartbol also walked in the show along with his wife.
Wearing a jewelled tie, H.E. Patrick Herman, Ambassador of Belgium walked along with his wife, Madame Siobhan Herman who looked elegantly chic. Not to be missed, NOW! Jakarta’s director Barbara Speirs looked dashing with ‘Crescent moon’ as a sublime homemade accessory curled below her neck.
“The unique thing is that the models are real people. They are our colleagues and friends. It’s a diverse group with different personality, the show is done by us and people can enjoy,” Gidwani said.
Furthermore, Gidwani, Lorentzen and Soesastro defined the collection as an appreciation of the universe which is sometimes forgotten in the the bustle of daily life. “It’s the universe around us, the world we live in. Let’s not forget the beauty of the world we live in. and the beauty is in what we wear,” Gidwani added.
