Indonesian Fashion Spot!

KRATON Auguste Soesastro debuted its first runway show of 2009 Fall Couture and Prêt-à-Porter de Luxe at the Asia Society in New York, on Friday, February 20th, the last day of NY Fashion Week. Kraton is Auguste Soesastro’s Fashion House established in 2008. Kraton emerges to promote the best aspects of Indonesian arts and cultures to the international fashion world, to ensure the survival of Indonesian unique heritage for future generations. The label itself specializes in high-end luxury garments, detailed cut and tailoring. Kraton also emphasizes to be ecologically responsible, making sure all raw materials used were legally obtained, and skilled workers paid in fair wages.

Kraton’s first collection is an homage to the Javanese Royal Court. With an in-depth research of Javanese Royalty traditions, lifestyle and costumes, Kraton emerges with a fresh approach of unique tailoring infused with ancient nobility. Focusing upon the hourglass body shape, Soesastro eliminated the side seams and set-in sleeves. Each garment is made-to-measure and constructed differently, using high quality fabrics: Double-faced cashmere, Vicuna, Silk, Wool, and Leather. Collaborating with the best in their field, the hand woven silk batiks and cashmere batik shawls specially commissioned from Bin House. The garments are embellished with antique Javanese Royalty heirloom jewelries,  and completed with blankon turbans, kuluk hats, and Manolo Blahnik footwear.

.: Designer Bio :.

Born in Jakarta to Dutch Indonesian parents of Javanese, Chinese and Arabic descents, Auguste Soesastro has lived and traveled through different countries from a very young age. He worked as a curator in Australia for Indonesian arts, specializing in antiques and regional textiles and costumes. He held a degree in Film and Digital Arts from the Australian National University and later studied Fashion at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture in Paris, France. He interned at some major haute couture houses during his studies in Paris, and later moved to New York to work for Ralph Rucci, an American couturier. Then he freelanced as a pattern maker at some American high-end leading designers before finally launching his own line in 2008.

View a quick video of Kraton’s runway show, here.

Bookmark Kraton homepage *Website is still under construction, keep checking back

Sources and images courtesy of Kraton Auguste Soesastro.