TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Notable Indonesian fashion designer Oscar Lawalata gave his opinion toward the online criticisms aimed at the batik outfit worn by Debra Jeanne Poh, Malaysia’s entrance in the Miss Grand International 2018.
Oscar maintained that each country should present their own tradition that represents their respective country when participating in an international event. However, Oscar suggested Indonesians to thoroughly document the varying design motives of each and every batik in Indonesia.
“We must look through mirror first, what can we do about this issue? Have we filed the entire batik design we have? Have we documented it in the form of a proper book? Would that said book be available internationally? Whether you want it or not, that has been acknowledged by the public,” said Oscar Lawalata at the Batik for the World exhibition in Jakarta last week.
Oscar believes that his suggestion is the element that could inform the international community upon batik’s originality.
“If we’re the only ones who know about it, if we’re the only ones angered by it, people out there still don't know that the ‘parang’ batik exists in Indonesia,” he said. “We are the ones that should initially inform them about it. Take Japan’s kimono, for instance, we would be able to identify it [as a product of Japanese culture] if someone else plagiarizes it.” He said.
AURA
