On the RISE

Vogue Singapore spotlights DIBBA and Artkea, two standout brands from Plaza Indonesia Fashion Week 2024.

- BRYAN HO

Over the last few years, there has been a steady influx of Asian designers bursting onto the fashion scene and making their mark. From fashion's wunderkind designer Peter Do taking the top job at Helmut Lang to Vietnamese brands La Lune and Fanci Club breaking the internet with their viral campaigns and star-studded clientele, the East has certainly cemented itself as the hotspot for budding new talent. Closer to home, it seems that the narrative isn't much different. At least this is the case for Indonesia, which has steadily become a melting pot of unbridled creativity and innovation. In March, Vogue Singapore attended Plaza Indonesia Fashion Week 2024, which saw 75 of Indonesia's most notable brands showcase their latest collections for all the world to see.

Across the six-day extravaganza, two brands stood out from the impressive line-up of emerging and esteemed designers. The first was DIBBA, a brand known for infusing Eastern embroidery techniques with svelte Western tailoring. Shares 35-year-old founder and designer Faisal Shah of DIBBA's identity: "With every collection, we look at how to harmoniously fuse the East and West, reimaging silhouettes and cuts from two vastly contrasting aesthetics." On the other hand, Artkea is a heritage brand that prides itself on breaking the mould when it comes to traditional modest wear. At the helm is architectturned-entrepreneur Arvi Anangga Sardadi, who runs the brand alongside his three sisters. What sets Artkea apart would be the five sub-lines that make up the brandBloom, Lace, Stripes, Colours and Classic-each distinctive in design but synonymous with one another. "Having several lines allows for a more diverse range of customers", notes Sardadi. "I think that any successful brand needs that balance of creativity and entrepreneurship in order to go far." Below, the aspiring designers delve into their respective creative processes, experiences and hopes for the future.

DIBBA