BACKSTAGE AT SPRING STUDIOS

The Style Series had the honor of going backstage at the iconic Spring Studios for the official New York Fashion Week show: Indonesia Now

By Christy Kioko

Oct 9, 2023

During our time at New York Fashion Week, we were invited by The Riviere Agency (@riviereagency) to the iconic Spring Studios to interview some of the designers before their runway shows at the official NYFW calendar show, Indonesia Now.

The backstage action at Spring Studios.

Hannah and Christy with Ivan Gunawan. Photograph by Dalton Wafula.

Indonesia Now, created by Dina Fatimah, is an invite-only showcase focused on highlighting the beauty and legacy of Indonesian fashion through the country’s top designers and talent. One of the designers gracing the runway this year was Ivan Gunawan, an incredibly well-known designer and public figure in Indonesia. Known for his celebrity-worn pieces and intricate designs, Gunawan brought a Renaissance-inspired collection to the runway for his SS24 show, with 11 hand-made looks, each one the only piece of its kind. “All preparation takes 2-3 months,” he told us, and a majority of his couture clients are celebrities and performers, so this collection was inspired by the glitz and glam of the entertainment industry, or, as he stated in our conversation, Beyonce. With silk sheers adorned in crystals and hand-made jewelry, Gunawan created an absolutely stunning collection that left a memorable impression. “This year I want to come out with my own style,” he told us. After 20 years as a designer and seven years of designing modest clothing for his mostly Muslim clientele, this collection is a bit different, his “own creations”, and now with the ability to work globally, Gunawan wants to have a location in New York or Paris in the near future.

Next, we enjoyed chatting with Kimberly Tandra about her SS24 collection, “Plethora” for her brand, Suedeson. Inspired by the vibrant colors of Indonesian flora, translated into an array of pink and orange prints with beautiful silhouettes, Tandra’s SS24 features looks that are transitional, functional, and wearable for every woman. Celebrating her third year at Fashion Week, Tandra was elated to share her new collection as has been designing since she was 17. She hopes within the next five years to have a store in the U.S.

You can watch the interview with Ivan and Kimberly on our Youtube Channel.

Christy and Hannah with Kimberly Tandra. Photograph by Dalton Wafula.

Kimberly Tandra’s SS24 collection.