Wednesday, September 10, 2008 Fashion across borders By Carlo P. Mallo
AT THE height of the Kadayawan celebrations, I was invited by the Indonesian Consul General for the diplomatic receptions in commemoration of the 63rd Anniversary of Independence of our much bigger archipelagic neighbor down south.
It was a night full of revelry at the Ballroom of the Apo View Hotel, as if I were in a different country, only that no one required me to present my passport.
But more than the Indonesian culture that was showcased that night, the different fashion statements made by the guests of the event took my attention away.
One of the first things that caught my attention was the silk kimono donned by the wife of the Japanese Consul General.
The dark blue hued with sakura or cherry blossoms inspired prints was made more interesting by the matching wooden slippers and the porcelain skin of the wife of the Japanese Consul General.
The Malaysian counterparts who were also present were donned in the traditional Moslem outfit, complete with the veil.
The wife of the Consul General of Indonesia was dressed in a silk ensemble that was embroidered with a floral pattern.
Next were the Balinese costumes of the Indonesian school children who presented a, well, Balinese dance. It was all glittery from the gilded golden headdress to the silky dresses and sarongs.
There were also the Filipino guests who proudly sashayed their Filipiniana outfits made of jusi fibers and dyed to the perfect hues of green and red. Men were also seen wearing the traditional barong tagalong, while some opted to wear the Mindanao-inspired barong with batik accents.
These may be only in the fashion aspect of the evening, but the evening did not only showcase Indonesia's culture but also the various traditions and fashion influences of each country.
Aside from the commemoration of the 63rd Anniversary of Independence of Indonesia from the Dutch, the night was a reminder of the various cultures and traditions that each country has, and the beauty of appreciating such differences.
