By Janet Ekstract
NEW YORK (TURKISH JOURNAL) – Get ready for a new fashion splash!
With a new take on the traditional abaya, the all exclusive abaya show at New York Fashion Week (NYFW) turned out to be a resounding success – so much so that Indonesian designer Vivi Zubedi could not contain her excitement.
The very unique catwalk debuted at Fashion Week a few days ago, was entitled “Urang Banua” to honor the traditional female artisans of Banjarbara in South Borneo that Zubedi explains work tirelessly to create handmade creations and is meant to be a tribute to female empowerment.
Zubedi, who started her signature line in 2011, had first shown her unique, upscale style, abaya garments in a joint fashion show in September, with other Indonesian designers.
What made her show a standing room only event at New York Fashion Week (NYFW) was an early buzz about her very modern fashion sense that combined trendy, cool sportswear accessories with her signature special handmade textile and embroidered abaya style – making each piece totally original with its own independent statement.
Her goal with this very eclectic embroidered line is to call attention to the women of South Borneo in regions as far flung as South Kalimantan, Pagatan and Sasirangan.
The designer, who received such an overwhelmingly positive response, said she suddenly realized she had an amazing market for her fashion-forward Middle Eastern style clothes in New York City.
Zubedi found that even non-Muslims adore her very modern take on Islamic-style dressing. After the runway debut at NYFW, the designer found herself mobbed backstage by a host of friends, family and U.S. bloggers – all clamoring for a glimpse of the designer and models, up close and personal.
It was obvious that there was an electric vibe sparked by Vivi Zubedi’s very eclectic array of abaya confections that appeared to float down the runway in an effortless elegance.
She revealed that she has an abundance of clients in America and her show ended up being standing room only as tall, elegant models hit the runway in a standout and colorful collection of batik prints, black, midnight blue velvet, pearl rimmed hijabs and American baseball-style hats set atop headscarves.
This was certainly not the typical American fashion catwalk.
As models were cloaked from head to toe in flowing, bouncy and elegant fabric with hands covered by leather gloves and wrists adorned by artistic lacy cuffs.
The signature style is based on the abaya but with a twist.
The traditional abaya for years had been a long, loose black head-to-toe style coat dress that is often required in a number of Middle Eastern countries and adopted by some of the very strictly observant Muslim women, especially in Saudi Arabia.
What makes Zubedi’s abaya style a standout is her luxury, crystal encrusted fabric that shimmered down the fashion runway, reflecting an effervescence with pearls accessorizing the model’s necks and ruffled sleeves for a decidedly, modern twist.
This is a designer who has clearly made a bold decision to step outside the box by mixing the unexpected – a fashion forward black leather jacket zipped over the top of an abaya as a very exciting alternative.
Vivi Zubedi is clearly making her statement in the foray into ‘new fashion heights’ in the 21st century. And what she’s expressing with her emboldened abaya style is this: we are in a new era where women are free to choose how they want to appear to the world.
Zubedi’s designs remind us that even women who are required to cover, deserve to step out in style and they can still do it without having to feel they aren’t stylish.
Showcasing the “new abaya” at New York Fashion Week also sends a message of openness and tolerance that all types of styles can be embraced in this very fast paced trendy and global world.
Though Zubedi’s designs were primarily whipped up for the more traditionally, religious and conservative affluent Muslim women – her pieces could easily be adopted to a more modern type of western clientele.
Since her first show in September, the designer said she has attracted the attention of a host of buyers from Hong Kong, Dubai and the United States.
Up next for Zubedi, she says is her goal to open a store for customers living abroad because currently her garments can only be bought online.
One thing is certainly crystal clear: this is a designer to watch for coming global trends that tip fashion on its side and up the ante toward a more creative mentality when it comes to dressing for the traditional woman whether Muslim or not.
