INKAFESCA.

I met the designers this past summer, which is my first project the moment I stepped back to Indonesia. We had coffee and exchanged ideas in between them negotiating with me to keep on promoting their things and to give me a discount. But other than that, here's what I discovered in this emerging brand trying to stand out from the myriads of indie labels in Jakarta.

INKAFESCA is a brand born in the minds of two ladies, Inneke Virginia and Anthea Flodesca. As they have previously launched their debut collection, 'Stone Tones' a few months ago, they're now back with a new unique collection, 'Britain Bollywood'. Based as an online shop, they're new to the big bang of online shops and local fashion lines but they have their own personal touch of things. Here, I sat down with the designers talking about their beginnings and what will they expect in the future.


Can you share how did you first had the idea to make Inkafesca?
Inneke: Because we have the same passion and have a lot of things in common in terms of style, after I graduated, I approached her, thinking that it's a good thing to have our own income. We are close friends as we like to hang out together and had plans previously in wanting to collaborate something together but didn't know what yet. So then, now, we took our chances to establish this label together.


Where did you get the name, "INKAFESCA"?
It's actually a combination of both our names!


Did you have any fashion background?
Inneke: I was in Lasalle Jakarta graduated with diploma in fashion Design.
Anthea: I'm currently in UPH taking Architecture. It's a pretty different route yeah? (laughs)

























Do you plan on doing this full-time?
Right now, it is still part-time, but later in the future we'd expand our line to not only having a fashion line, but in the interior side as well, designing furnitures and home accessories. Because Anthea is still doing her studies, we focus on doing just our fashion line for now.


Why as an online shop?
Inneke: Since we start from zero, so online shop is the most accessible and easier to control. We first wanted to have a standalone shop but since we're amateurs in this industry we didn't know how expensive it was for shop leases and such. We weren't aware of the trends in online stores. We don't have any other staffs and we hire our own dressmaker. The process of creating is organic, it's not always me who makes the pattern for the clothes, sometimes the dressmaker creates the patterns too.


How is Inkafesca different from other online shop?
In addition to our own clothing line, we also accept in creating customized dresses. So there's another set of deadlines. Handling this isn't as easy as we think: we have to source the materials, cut the patterns, check the sewing, etc.; we have to give our full attention if we want to work it out to the next level.



How many collections do you plan in launching per year?
We try our best to launch 3 collections, but we probably will have a mini-collection in between so there's new things to see every month. Usually in the new collection there's about more than 15 pieces, but a mini-collection would be about only 5. We also want to branch out in creating menswear, so that's something exciting to look forward to.

Can you share what's your inspiration behind the new line, Britain Bollywood?
We were inspired by India’s soft and feminine culture and the Britain's strong masculinity. So, we combined them both: taking India’s unique clothing, accessories and putting their patterns to the fun cut and details from Great Britain’s army. The color palette this time is more soft, pastel nude ivorish colour complimented with colours from the famous Britain’s
flag.


Why do you have such limited quantity for each design? Is it meant to be that way?
The reason being so is because the materials we find has also a limited amount. We search for the fabrics far and wide to many places; the fabrics some imported like from Korea, has only one roll and that's it for that pattern. So yes, our stuff is very limited as well, so you are the only one wearing at most places!


So, what are you future plans?
Hopefully, we would like to collaborate with other designers, launching the new division of line, and much, much later, a standalone shop!

Do see their latest collection at www.whiteboardjournal.com and check out their website

www.inkafesca.com

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*shift 1-8

UPDATE TALLY: ||||\ ||

Freaking 18 soon so here's a list of 18 things plus more things underneath. I was thinking of what I wanted and I got stuck then after a round of window shopping I'd want more stuff. Sigh, never ending.

Who should I send the physical wish list to? Hmmm. Bill Gates, or Steve Jobs, or Madonna, or you?! HA. As if. Even the first few ones are taken from the old one. Tsk.

I'd want a fuschia-soled stiletto and not blood red, just to keep in mind. Heeee~

Let me amend and explain a few things around to get around the envelope map...

As the Red Devil speaks...

             Serendipitously, in the topic of Fashion Curation and the mood of having our special Korean x Singapore fashion designers exhibition right here in my college campus just opposite of me, where most Korean fashion professors come and gave a talk, shared their garments to be hanged, and gave a talk which also brought forth a very, very useful textbook, essays and research from the Korean professors. And our CCS Level 2 presentation is all about fashion curation.

            A bit about the project - themes given, choosing within the three, and corner one aspect of it. I was thinking of doing art and fashion since I haven't gotten any light-bulb around this area, but hence, today, the library opened my mind! I picked up books that are good for the essay too (REBELREBEL, THE JAPANESE REVOLUTION IN PARIS FASHION, and a book of Broadway musicals that talks about their costumes and all) and the last book in the list has englightened me! With the topic Music x Fashion, Broadway musicals is part of music and costume, and they're old and authentic as they get, so it should be a great curation that fits in well - not by the youths but museum worthy!

          Here comes the coincidental part: I wonder how they found me and why they added me and such, but on Twitter, although I don't understand whatever they say (like as I follow the other hallyu wave stars) Concept Korea req. to followed! As if I tweet anything important. And after I checked their profile and website,

it turns out that it's a website for a past exhibition in New York's National Library for Korean designers entitled Pret a Porter Monochrome.

Six rising (LOVE) designers that I try to religiously follow (but most names are new) but hence, Korean designers aren't as big as Japanese' are.

              This is like, awesome! I thought that it was an ongoing exhibition but turns out it was held in February. And the exhibition right now in my college, although they aren't famous fashion designers from Korea, it was a more of a cultural and relation mutualism where both get benefits (did I say it right).

Now, another name came up and I was interested as she was introduced as one of the most powerful force in art curation. Rosemarie Trockel is another figure to research into for my project; Lou Taylor and whoever in the presentation came out today saying... Ahh so many things to read and catch up.

         ~Please watch Korea closely with full affection and interests in its journey to become a fashion hub in Asia in the next generation.

Of course I will! here comes the red devils to take over Asia Pacific - let's see what can you do because (yes of course I'd love to be part of the growth and contribute to its mass) the Japan fashion force is still running full throttle (which I also love to be part of it but it is developED already).