UNS – Eleven students from the Textile Crafts Program at the Faculty of Arts and Design (FSRD) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta participated in the Young Designer Fashion Show at the Wastra Nusantara Fashion 2024 event. Held at Plaza Taman Sriwedari Solo, the event aimed to promote textiles in the spirit of preserving the local cultural heritage of Wastra Nusantara.
Ratna Endah Santoso, S.Sn., M.Sn., supervising lecturer from the Textile Crafts Program at FSRD UNS, delivered that this event was highly positive, serving not only as a platform for creativity in designing fashion using Wastra Nusantara but also providing information and scholarly insights into the uniqueness, beauty, and even the philosophy of Wastra Nusantara, which can be preserved by the younger generation.
“The students from the Textile Crafts Program at FSRD UNS presented 13 mixed fashion design works incorporating Wastra Nusantara as a local wisdom in their creations, presented in accordance with the current tastes and preferences of young people to make Wastra Nusantara familiar in the hearts of the younger generation. In addition to Wastra Nusantara as a medium for fashion design, the concept of environmental ethnicity was also embraced in their works,” Ratna explained during the event held on Wednesday (15/5/2024).
Moreover, the issue of environmental awareness was raised as a movement of concern by the Textile Crafts students at FSRD UNS regarding environmental responsibility. The materials used in their fashion design creativity largely comprised waste and scraps of denim textiles, as well as Wastra Nusantara, resulting in highly intriguing designs. “Unused waste and scraps are transformed into new, highly artistic products and used as the main material in environmentally friendly fashion product design innovations,” she added.
Alongside the fashion show, there was also a talk show about traditional Nusantara fabrics. The event was organized to celebrate the 44th anniversary of the National Crafts Council (Dekranas) held in Surakarta.
The students showcased creative fashion works from cultural and environmental perspectives. Textile and fashion designs with cultural and environmental perspectives are foundational values developed by the Textile Crafts program at UNS. The students participating in this event were Anggie Karunia Rahma, Annisa Tri Syahri Chiquitana Balqis Ghorra’ul Wajh, Derrick Ananditya, Erlitna Justita Br. Purba, Kharisma Widya Kartika, Mufida Khairul Muna, Muhammad Rifqi Hasya, Salva Rusnia Ardhiyanie, Tery Luana Irmalia, and Yosevin Tiodora.
“We, from the study program, strongly encourage students to actively engage in various off-campus activities related to the field of textile and fashion design scholarship. Fashion shows serve as a platform to train students’ mentality, creativity, and skills in creating works. Additionally, students also learn to communicate ideas through fashion works to the public,” Ratna concluded.
HUMAS UNS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti