BIYAN : The Story of A Genius Work

BIYAN WANAATMADJA

The history began when as a young man, Biyan - who was born in 1954 in Surabaya – was actually studying Architecture in Germany, when his inner voice asked him to change his direction. The “voice” must have been so loud that he decided to study Fashion Design right away in Dusseldorf and London, and left the Architecture since then. In fact, it’s only a thin border which separates Architecture and Fashion Design. Both of them have an aim to create beauty, and both of them need skillful hands to make it into realization.

Biyan is a sacred name. When we hear this name, we have an image in our minds about certain beauty. Biyan can translate the beauty so well through his dresses. He is one of the genius in creating this. His clothes seem fit for angels. Women look beautiful in his clothes.

He is a down to earth person, in spite of his success. He  does not open his fashion house in Milan and Paris to make his name as famous as Giorgio Armani or Karl Lagerfeld. Instead, he invites the international world to come to Indonesia. The country which is located very far from Europe and America. The archipelago country which is called the jewel on the equator - because of its rich nature - surrounded by seas and oceans. The country where Bali, one of the islands in Indonesia, is much more well-known in the world than the name of the country itself. But to overcome the long distance, now his brand finally can be found in the department stores in Paris, Madrid, New York, Hongkong, Dubai, Singapore, and other countries. Or people can buy on line through Net-a-Porter site. 

Time goes so quickly, and last June he just celebrated his 30 years dedication as a fashion designer. With full of beauty, full of glamour, as usual. Very spectacular. Until now, the beauty he has created is still constant. It never fades.   

Kelly Rutherford in BIYAN
A scene in "Gossip Girl"

The Celebration of His 30th Anniversary as a Fashion Designer

Rosie Soemardi

image is the courtesy of BIYAN

Martha Tilaar Group, the Real Giant Cosmetic Industry

Martha Tilaar Group is a giant cosmetic company which has a great numbers of cosmetic brands. Each  brand produces again so many products by itself and has its own market. The story began when they started their business in 1970 in Jakarta. Many years ahead, with their busy schedule in never ending research and innovation, their new products always come out with new improvements. Their products are so many, but in a good quality.  

Now take a look what brands they have. Beginning from Sari Ayu. This brand uses natural ingredients for the treatment from head to toe. Then Caring, whose target is the young professional. Next is Belia. This cosmetic brand is only for teenagers. Then comes out Rudy Hadisuwarno, which focuses on hair. Next is Biokos, which also uses natural ingredients and it is targeting the women  in their 20s to 40s. Next is Mirabella, whose price is more affordable and its target is the modern ladies. While Cempaka is for the dynamic ones and it is also completed with its spa products. Finally, the Group released PAC cosmetic and Dewi Sri Spa for their premium market. You can see everything here (click here) in detail. 

After existing for 43 years, Martha Tilaar Group can boast themselves as the biggest cosmetic industry in Indonesia.    


Rosie Soemardi

Peter Sie, the Pioneer of Indonesian Fashion Designers

Peter Sie
the Pioneer of Indonesian Fashion Designers

                                               

For Indonesian fashion industry, no one can neglect the big name of Peter Sie, as the pioneer of Indonesian fashion designers since the Old Order regime in Indonesia. Born in Jakarta, 28 December 1929 and died on 1 April 2011. 

He learned pattern making in Den Haag from 1947 to 1953. When he returned to Indonesia, President Soekarno family was noted as one of his clients. He reached his peak during 1970s and 1980s and was also known as the first Haute Couture Designer in Indonesia. His gowns were often photographed for the Indonesian leading magazines then. He retired in the late 1980s, but in 2001 he made a fashion show of his collections and published his autobiography which was entitled "Mode adalah Hidupku"  (Fashion is My Life) at the same time. During his life, Peter Sie was known to have a humble character. He was such a talented designer and also a wonderful person from   his heart. Someone to whom we can always give our deep respect from the bottom of our hearts.

                                   

One of Peter Sie's gowns

Rosie Soemardi
pictures are from amandaeunikemagdalena & Imam 0303

A Fashion Icon : Farah Khan

If we talk about the luxury business in Malaysia, it’s impossible to not mention a powerful woman behind it. She is Farah Khan, a conglomerate who has brought luxury goods to enter Malaysia since 1989. Mention some of the famous labels we can think of, from Ermenegildo Zegna, Saint Laurent, Tod's, Juicy Couture, Aigner, Emilio Pucci, Hugo Boss, Stuart Weitzman, and many others – she has made all of them become popular in Malaysia. Totally, there are more than 100 famous labels altogether, including her own label "Farah Khan" – she herself is a fashion designer - the label which its stores have been opened in Indonesia as well. Born and raised in Singapore and now lives in Kuala Lumpur, Farah has made a tremendous growth for the luxury industry in Malaysia. She is also a food lover, and following her taste, she  opens all of the Dome Café, Aseana CaféBar and Yo! Sushi throughout Malaysia. 

It only needs one sentence to describe her, "She is a truly business woman." It’s like what she “touches” will turn into gold, just like a Midas’ touch. All of her business is under Melium Group, where she herself is the Founder and the President. Not forget to mention, there is also an exciting thing to do in her M store – which is also part of Melium Group - where we can get many choices of the famous labels. 

Now we can say that in the high fashion world there are two powerful women who we cannot easily forget. They are Anna Wintour in the United States, and it's definitely Farah Khan when we are in Malaysia. Both of them often do charities. And both of them has developed the luxury business to reach its outstanding level. 

Rosie Soemardi

image is the courtesy of Melium Group

Holiday in Tibet at St. Regis Lhasa Resort

Apa yang anda rencanakan untuk liburan kali ini ? Pernahkah anda melihat film Lost Horizon, yang aslinya dibuat pada tahun 1937 namun mengalami beberapa kali perubahan hingga tahun 1973 ? Film itu mengisahkan sebuah tempat yang sangat indah dan tersembunyi bernama Shangri-La, lokasinya di pegunungan Himalaya. Di Shangri-La yang keberadaan tempatnya merupakan sebuah misteri, orang-orangnya sangat awet muda atau sangat lambat sekali mengalami proses penuaan. Sehingga seorang gadis muda cantik yang merupakan penduduk Shangri-La, begitu keluar dari lokasi tersebut langsung berubah wujud menjadi seorang nenek yang sangat tua renta. Adapun mengenai dimana tepatnya lokasi Shangri-La, tak ada seorangpun yang dapat menemukannya jika dengan sengaja mencari tempat itu. Film Lost Horizon dibuat berdasarkan buku dengan judul yang sama, ditulis oleh James Hilton, seorang pengarang dari Inggris. Kini, pernahkah anda membayangkan sebuah tempat seperti Shangri-La, yang berada di pegunungan Himalaya ? Walau tak sama dengan kisah Shangri-La, Tibet bagi sebagian besar orang mungkin juga merupakan misteri. Penduduk Tibet hidup sederhana, namun mereka memiliki pemandangan alam yang sangat indah. Lhasa, sebagai ibukota Tibet, memiliki dua tempat yang tak boleh dilewatkan para turis, yaitu Potala Palace dan Norbulingka, yang keduanya merupakan kediaman Dalai Lama ketika beliau berada di Tibet. Di Tibet unsur keagamaan sangat terasa. Para pendeta Buddha di Tibet juga dikenal sangat pandai meramal dan dapat mengetahui apakah seseorang pernah hidup sebelumnya di zaman yang lain atau mengalami reinkarnasi. Berada di Tibet seakan-akan berada di dunia lain. 

Di balik kesederhanaan penduduknya, Tibet kini  memiliki beberapa hotel berbintang. Namun tak dapat disangkal bahwa hotel St. Regis Lhasa Resort tetap adalah satu-satunya hotel termewah dan terindah di Tibet, dan juga merupakan hotel bintang lima pertama di Tibet. Merupakan sesuatu yang sangat kontras sekali antara kemewahan di St. Regis dengan kesederhanaan kehidupan penduduk Tibet. Mungkin, jika menginap di St. Regis, anda pun dapat membayangkan Shangri-La, a hidden paradise di dalam novel James Hilton.    

Deluxe Room

Tubo Suite
Library

Lhasa City at Night

Potala Palace

Drawing Room

Yan Ting Chinese Restaurant
Private Dining Room

                     
Rosie Soemardi
all pictures from St. Regis Lhasa Resort - Starwood hotels

Vera Wang Ready-to-Wear 2013

Vera Wang Mercer in New York

After being famous as a bridal gown designer, Vera Wang started to design clothes as well. Some of her designs for her ready-to-wear collection 2013  :

SPRING 2013

PRE-FALL 2013

image from style.com
Rosie Soemardi