Friday, January 24, 2014

Sebastian Gunawan’s Garden of Designs

Designer Sebastian Gunawan combines both European pastels and bright bold oriental colors for his latest collection. Renowned designer Sebastian Gunawan offers a breathtaking garden of designs in his latest collection to welcome the Chinese New Year. 

The collection, under the theme “Le Jardin Chinois” (The Chinese Garden), unites influences from Europe and China, offering a highly varied bouquet of contrasting colours and textures.

“During the Louis XV era in France, the upper class really popularized the oriental style and aesthetics. They loved all things ‘chinoise’,” explained the designer, who is fondly known as Seba, of his inspiration for the fusion.

Clad in chequered jacket and bright orange bow tie for the show, he said he saw similarities between the two cultures in that era, especially in the high, demure collars of the period.

“The cheongsam-style Chinese neckline is actually really similar to the fashion of many European women at that time. So there is a kind of synergy at work here, which I have tried to explore in this collection,” he says.

His merging of these influences has certainly yielded impressive results as seen throughout the show, held at the Hotel Mulia Senayan in Jakarta.
The event offered more than simply fashion, as proceeds from ticket sales went to supporting the Lions Club Indonesia’s Floating Hospital initiative. The floating hospital is a fully equipped ship, which brings much-needed medical expertise to some of the country’s most remote and isolated parts.

In the show, Seba’s collection featured high necklines, elaborate statement collars, cropped jackets and cut-away backs, with pieces also frequently adorned with large ruffles and peplums.

The first set of designs to hit the runway was predominantly crafted from soft floral in tones of pastel pink and green.

These pieces were followed by some more edgy designs, in similar cuts but with darker, more contrasting materials. Long black dresses with copper detailing and embroidery, puffy tulip skirts crafted from layers of orange silk and black lace, all accessorized with long black gloves and elaborate beadwork.

The final set of looks featured bright and bold graphic floral prints, as well as the obligatory Imlek (Chinese New Year) red. From certain angles, the spectacular folding and ruffles made some designs look as though the models were emerging from enormous flowers.

Contrasting colors and textures were used to great effect throughout the entire show, and all models sported elaborate oriental-style makeup and butterflies in their hair, tying in nicely with the garden theme. 
Seba’s depth of influences and design experience was evident, as the designs displayed huge variation in cut, from full skirts to tulips to fishtails, while remaining strongly united as a collection.

The variety, in terms of colour and cut, was intentional, Seba explained.

“I’ve used a combination of both European pastels and bright bold oriental colours to give the impression of being in a colorful garden,” he says.

Although he is always interested in fusing elements of different cultures and styles in his work, “Le Jardin Chinois” is quite different to some of Seba’s previous collections, and this is something he is proud of.

“Fashion is a movement,” said the 46-year-old designer. “It is always in motion and never static.”


The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post

Meghan Downes, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Lifestyle | Sat, January 25 2014, 2:55 PM

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