Thursday, June 19, 2008

Designer Spotlight: Biyan









I enjoyed the amazing privilege of attending a Biyan fashion show while visiting Jakarta, Indonesia last month. While relatively unknown in the Western world, designer Biyan Wanaatmadja is the go-to man for Indonesian celebrities and high-profile socialites. His creations--elegant, highly embellished, ethereal pieces--are coveted as much as tickets to his exclusive fashion shows. Throughout the show, I sat on the edge of my seat as a parade of beautiful clothes on beautiful models floated by on the jungle-themed runway.

My favorite piece was an intricately embroidered silk jacket with a mandarin collar in a muted pink shade. Close up, the embroidery was exquisite, trailing around the collar and shoulders for a delicately feminine effect. The show featured clothes heavy on silk, innovative draping, luxurious embellishment, bold jewelry, beading and bright patterns. Even the leather platform wedges worn by the models were each carefully embellished with unique stones and beads. All in all, the show was breathtaking, showcasing the kind of contemporary yet opulent designs most Indonesian socialites favor wearing.

No word yet on how to get your hands on some Biyan if you live outside Indonesia, but hopefully their new website will be up and running and offer international shipping to the USA! Now that would be beyond wonderful!

1 comment:

Triskaedeka said...

Hii!! I am Nina from Indonesia and also a fan of Biyan's creation. Though I don't really have any of his masterpieces (rather expensive :P), I am happy that you've seen his show and know that he has the potential to perhaps one day dress important people internationally :]
Cheers,
Nina