Does this work for you?
Sorry to both the Koreans and Indonesians but I couldn't resist playing around with the names in the title for this posting. Just like the cross between the lion and tiger to get... was it the liger?... , two fashion designers were given the challenge of coming up with hybrid designs which would incorporate elements of the hanbok and batik.
Shin Sook-young, a designer associated with Sookhyun Hanbok said in an interview, ''I was asked to design six different pieces of the Korean traditional costume Hanbok with fabric used for making Indonesia's Batik.''
One wonders if that was really all she had to say or if she was being diplomatic and refrained from making any subjective comments.
I'd also like to know what the Indonesian designer, Oscar Lawalata, felt about seeing his beloved batiks used as part of the skirt or chima in the hanbok. This young man, who has taken part in many fashion shows around the region, is keen to promote Indonesian textiles but was he happy seeing them used for hanboks? How did the Koreans feel about their national dress made of batik appearing on the runway?
Hanbok with batik skirts worn by models on the right side
Some lucky Indonesians in Jakarta enjoyed the privilege of deciding such questions for themselves when they saw first-hand the results of that collaboration in a Hanbok-Batik fashion show. The opening event for the South Korea-Indonesia Week celebrations was hosted by the Council of Nation Branding at the Ritz-Carlton ballroom on Monday 11th October.
One of Oscar Lawalata's creations has some Chinese influence as well
In addition to tranditional Hanbok and Lawalata's own designs, hanbok made from batik, and costumes from Korean TV dramas like Daejanggeum were also featured on the runway. Have tried to look for reviews of the show but have not found anything as yet. Personally, I'm not comfortable with the results - the earthiness of batik doesn't quite suit the hanbok which has to convey a sense of lightness and ethereal delicacy given its already puffed-up outlines. But then again, I shouldn't comment on the basis of two pictures. If anyone out there did take pics of the show please post them somewhere on the Net and send me the links so that I can get a closer look and make a more informed decision.
Check out Oscar Lawalata's website. I'd do the same for Ms Shin except that I couldn't find on her on the Net, believe it or not!
For another posting on another Korean designer, click here.
sources:
http://www.korea.net/detail.do?guid=50539
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=15463
http://berita.liputan6.com/sosbud/201010/300800/Festival.Korea.Kedua.Digelar
http://koreaindonesiaweek.com/
http://iheartme.onsugar.com/fashion-week-Oscar-Lawalata-2951812
http://www.oscarlawalata.net/philosophy.html
http://www.arirang.co.kr/Player/Player_Script.asp?vSeq=55968&code=News
