NYFW: Vivi Zubedi Fall/Winter 2018

March 4, 2018

[x_section style=”margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 45px 0px 45px 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/4″ style=”padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 1px; “][x_text class=”center-text “]By Jae Kyung Yim

Exclusive backstage photos by Contributing Photographer Jae Wha Yang
and runway photos by Contributing Photographer Lea Kim. [/x_text][/x_column][x_column bg_color=”” type=”3/4″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_text]On Sunday, February 11th, I attended the Vivi Zubedi Fall/Winter 2018 fashion show.

As I watched her show, my first impression of her collection was that it was very unique and I could sympathize with her experience from before she had become famous. It struck a chord with me especially when she said, “I became a designer because fashion is my passion.” Fashion is my passion too and also why I started designing myself.

Vivi Zubedi is a Muslim fashion designer from Jakarta, Indonesia. I liked her collection a lot due to her efforts to challenge stereotypes and prejudices by launching stunning, modern fashion collections promoting Muslim women’s wear. Zubedi seeks to show the world the beauty and style that is possible of the hijab, as most people in the world are not familiar with it.

What I liked most about her clothing was that she expressed well the harmony of Muslim and American fashion. For instance, models were wearing a hijab under a cap. Though one might originally think it would not match, it actually looked well-suited and beautiful. I also liked the colorful Indonesian materials, such as the abaya, a loose, flowing head-to-toe garment. With Zubedi showcasing the abaya through her brand, the abaya has become well known in other parts of the world beyond Indonesia like London, South Africa, Germany, Dubai and Qatar. Zubedi said, “Hijab is beautiful, we are all still human no matter what religion you are. We are still the same.” She and several other designers at New York Fashion Week were part of a movement to challenge Donald Trump who has sought to restrict immigration from certain Muslim-majority countries. In my opinion, I think she wanted to show that all people are equal and share common thoughts no matter what race or religion they are.

Intrigued by her work, I sought to learn more about Zubedi. An entrepreneur and designer, Zubedi is currently on a mission to support other entrepreneurs, especially other women from South Kalimantan, a province in Indonesia. By showcasing the original fabrics of South Kalimantan, like Pagatan and Sasirangan weavings to the international market, Zubedi wishes to promote the hard work of women ranging from teenagers to adults and elders and their high-level skills in using difficult techniques to make the fabrics. She believes these women should be highly praised with how they conserve Kalimantan’s traditions. By bringing more international attention to the Kalimantan traditional fabric, Zubedi dreams to improve the economy of these struggling artisan entrepreneurs.