Indonesian Fashion Spot!

The long awaited special edition of Italian VOGUE has finally arrived early this month. It’s the Black issue where only black models appeared in every pages of the magazine. Franca Sozzani, the editor-in-chief of VOGUE Italia created this special edition to draw attention to the lack of black models used in the industry. This issue features over 100 pages of prominent black models, from legendary model Iman, Alek Wek, Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks, Veronica Webb, to fresh newcomers: Jourdan Dunn (the one on the cover), and Chanel Iman. Sadly, I don’t see any photos of Brandi Quiñones. I like her better than Tyra Banks and she did pretty well in mid 90’s doing campaigns of big fashion labels, and walking down the runways of Chanel and Versace. Nevertheless, two of my favorite models, Noémie Lenoir and Liya Kabede, are featured in this issue. Most of the spread are photographed none other by the talented Steven Meisel. 

 (Vogue Italia, Black Spring Issue, courtesy of teamsugar.com) 

image courtesy of myfashionlife.com  

I surely hope this issue could also be a “wake-up call” to our very own Indonesian fashion publishing. It’s still rare to see girls with dark skin in our fashion magazines, especially those coming from the eastern part of Indonesia. Yet, we see more and more foreign faces, mostly Eastern European and Oriental models gracing the pages of Indonesian publications.

Allow me to list any familiar faces from the eastern part of our country. There are only few names which come accross my mind as I’m not up to date with any newcomers. We used to have great dark skin models in the past, Auk Murat, Noni Chirilda, Wiwied, Ozzy, Sausan, Naila Alatas and some other names which I can’t remember. Fahrani and Dinna Olivia are also known for their healthy tan skin compared to the “usual” successful Indonesian models with fair skin and Caucasian features. But I’m not so sure whether they’re ALL from the eastern part of Indonesia. Singer, Melly Manuhutu is another dark skin beauty from Maluku. There are probably more performers/singers with great voice from Maluku. How about Ade Juwita, the comedian? Well, she’s definitely not a model hehe ;D Where is she from by the way? Does anyone know? Other than those, honestly I can’t think of any other names!

I’m pretty sure there are a lot of beautiful girls from Eastern Indonesia especially from Papua, Maluku, Lombok, Nusa Tenggara with amazing dark skin, great bones, good posture and towering heights. The last dark skin model I noticed was the one who walked for Biyan, which was posted on our blog a while ago. But I’m not sure she’s Indonesian, and if I’m not mistaken she was “imported” from a modeling agency in Singapore. 

Maybe it’s about time for our modeling agencies to scout for those hidden gems from other parts of Indonesia!

Enough of that, let’s now enjoy some of these exotic beauties from the pages of Italian Vogue, for complete photos please click here

images courtesy of jezebel.com 

Sources & images courtesy of: Vogue Italia, fashionista.com, teamsugar.com, myfashionlife.com, jezebel.com