I was asked to be one of the judges for Pia Alisjahbana Award last week. Of course I was honored, especially when I found out the other judges are more senior and they are the experts in their own field. Last Thursday was the judging day. We had breakfast meeting at Orient8 Hotel Mulia to discuss on which nominees stand out the most.
Zara Blazer | Dorothy Perkins Dress | Mango Pumps | Prada Saffiano Bag
The judges & the witnesses
Back: Yoris Sebastian, Rhenald Kasali, Zornia, Taruna Kusmayadi, Chossy Latu, Christine Barki, Diaz Persada
Front: Niluh Sekar, Susan Budiharjo, Me, Svida Alisjahbana, Pia Alisjahbana
Pia Alisjahbana award is held every 5 years and this one is the second one. The winner in 2007 was Oscar Lawalata. So what are the criteria to be considered for the award? They are looking for an individual who is an agent of change, a role model, one who has given impact to Indonesia fashion industry. The scale of the business counts for consideration too, how big is the market that they have captured? Are they opening new market, empowering local artisans and local material? What are their signature design? How about recognition from local and international, have they received any? The criteria are quite extensive.
It was enlightening for me to understand more about fashion industry and to learn more about the nominees. It successfully made me pondering about my life, about what I’ve done, what I should be doing and if I have made a good impact to those around me. I was so thankful to be on the table with the people with such rich knowledge and experience, to learn more about the great things the nominees have done. It was definitely an awe-inspiring moment for me.
Anyway, so the winners have been chosen and will be announced during Jakarta fashion Week in November 4 at the Fashion Tent.
And look what I received at the end of the meeting? A memoir of Ibu Pia Alisjahbana! During the meeting, I was actually wondering if there is a book about her because I so want to learn more about her and how she built her publishing empire. In addition to Ibu Martha Tilaar, Ibu Pia is also someone I aspire to be 🙂 So you can imagine my surprise when I received this book and to find out that the book is actually not yet released for sale! All of my books are precious to me but this one will sit as my most precious book. It’s a privilege to read about her life, someone who has experienced life through a few different eras; The VOC era, the Japanese occupation, both old & new order regime, reformation and now. Not only she lives through those eras, but she built Femina Group; an empire and a legacy at has given hope to so many people, changed and empowered so many lives, shaped Indonesian fashion industry. It also preserves and popularizes our traditional culture and so many other things. She is indeed a living legend.
