In a place like New York City, where there is a sea of people in dark neutrals, Indonesian Diversity broke barriers and introduced again what it means to live a life of color. This season brought on the distinctive collections of Dian Pelangi, Itang Yunasz, 2Madison Avenue by designer Maggie Hutauruk and Alleira Batik, all of whom showcased high-class yet wearable designs.

Pelangi, who is returning to New York Fashion Week after her success during Spring/Summer 2018, continues to produce bold yet modest designs. On the runway, women in hijabs and vibrant tiny sunglasses showcase how the spheres of high fashion and streetwear can intersect. It is clear that Pelangi is savvy in understanding how to work with a variety of prints and textures. Her designs come together coherently thus making for an eye-capturing show.

The lights dimmed and the music changed from being upbeat to a slightly slower pace. Soon, Yunasz’s collection graced the walkway. His designs moved so elegantly through space due to the light material.

When asked about what distinguishes his work beyond his use of traditional patterns, Yunasz said, “Our special for New York Fashion Week is flowers. We use fabric that’s for daily [use] and comfort, like cotton and silk.”

Yunasz expressed wanting to make designs that are not only for women in Indonesia but also for women everywhere, and it is clear from the audience that he succeeded in capturing the attention of people from multiple backgrounds.

Hutauruk’s 2Madison Avenue pushes boundaries with a bohemian chic style that experiments with the ways in which structure can change yet still compliment the body. It focuses on making sure designs are 100 percent locally made.

“For this collection, I used a cloth — traditional woven material from North Sumatra that is dying right now cause nobody actually wants to have interest in using it,” Hutauruk adds. “I wanted to mix this with my own print and then put my flair and then try to modernize it with the hope that New York Fashion Week can actually remind people that we all have to evolve.”

Afterward, hues of red, orange, blue and pink roamed the runway as Batik’s collection closed out the show. It is clear that Batik has perfected the ability to merge both the traditional and the contemporary. The looks are fresh and wearable in the modern fashion world.

Indonesian Diversity continues to present collections that blur the lines between traditional and modern, high-class and streetwear, Indonesia and New York. These designers will change how fashion permeates the market and how diversity will influence it.

Read more of WSN’s New York Fashion Week coverage here. Email Veronica Liow at [email protected].