Dhyta Caturani is an interesting individual and someone who, for us really portrays our very own version of Kartini, or someone who fights for what she believes. We’ve known her for her exquisite and daring fashion taste shown on her Fashion Blog Stain on My Red Shoes. We’ve known her in Female Daily forum as the mistress of the Beauty Warehouse lapak Purplerebel. She said that her passion in life is to be an activist with a hope in becoming an agent of change. She works in various NGOs but she has certain interest in those especially to issues related to the enforcement of human rights, women empowerment and gender equality. As a freelancer, she can choose whatever work that she’s passionate about and she works with NGOs both in Indonesia and New York City.

How do you describe yourself, what you like and dislike?

Boy, how’s that for a difficult question! I always have a hard time every time I was asked to describe myself. I always think I am kinda difficult person therefore there was no such an easy way to describe myself. Probably I could say that what my mom always says about me as ‘keras hati dan pikiran’ is somewhat true. But I could easily be moved/touched by unfortunate things that happen in the world especially around me. And above all of those things, I am a happy go lucky person

I like traveling for sure. I have a dream that someday I could travel around Indonesia and the world, take photos and write about it. Oh, and I love shoes too! What I dislike? Adults who can’t act as grown ups!

What drives you to work with NGO and what does the job entail?

I started out as an activist since I was still in college. In fact, since I was in high school. The most powerful driving force was seeing a lot of bad things that happen around me, i.e. poverty, economic gaps, human rights violations, political injustices, racial discrimination, etc. My mom told me I was asking her why kids on the streets didn’t go to school and when my mom said because they’re poor I asked why were they poor. I guess, I wanted to contribute something (even if it’s only a small one) to the betterment of the society. Since I was still in college, I already worked voluntarily for a numerous NGOs. Ever since I was out of college I have always been working for NGOs to this day (except that one time when I was working as a teacher for a year in an International school). Working for NGOs of course gives me the small satisfaction for doing what I love and what I believe in. But like any other jobs, it is not something that is easy to do, especially when not so many people share the same ideas with us. We have to deal with such complicated issues and with such difficult stakeholders (especially government officials). At times, we could be very frustrated when our work seems like hitting the rock bottom. And it could be very exhausting. Take for example, the issues of domestic violence against women or some unresolved human rights violation cases.

Dhyta in yellow jacket at a close session meeting with Judge San Hyung Song, the President of International Criminal Court

Any specific issue that you’re interested and why?

This is a difficult question for me for I have interest in more than one issues. Let me try to mention my top interests: gender equality, human rights, sexual and reproductive health rights for women and young people, and LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) issues. This is because I have big personal concerns over marginalized groups such as women and LGBT and also I think these issues (among other issues) are very crucial if we want to talk about having a better Indonesia without discrimination and injustices.

What are your thoughts on Hari Kartini and how does it affect the lives of Indonesian women like us?

One thing that we should remember that the little freedom Indonesian women have now was not something that was given to us for free. It was fought long and hard by our heroes such as Kartini, Dewi Sartika, and Laksmana Malahayati, as well as by many unsung heroes, such as common mothers like ours. For that, we should not just stand aside watching the freedom slips away from us but instead we should pass on the legacy of those heroes by carrying on the torch of struggle for equality in any way we can.

We’ve noticed that you’re very much into fashion, how does it begin?

Oh that….yeah, it’s so funny that I was more of a shorts-t-shirt-and-sneakers kinda person until around a few years ago. I have no idea how it started. I think I just evolved from someone who didn’t give a damn about how I look into someone who likes fashion without really realizing it hahaha.

How do you describe your style and your must have items?

I don’t really have one single style. Really, it all depends on my mood of the day. But whatever style I wear at a certain time I feel the need to put an edge to it. I am basically into all kinds of stuff although I am not a big fan of bags (sorry bag lovers ). A bit hard to decide what are my must-have items. But certainly I couldn’t go anywhere without cool shoes (especially boots), white tank tops/t-shirts, cute dresses and cool glasses. Oh in addition to that, some lipsticks and blush-ons wouldn’t hurt.

How do you channel your interest in fashion and remain confident in a work environment where people dress differently from you?

Well, I can’t channel my love for fashion into my work. And that’s okay. I don’t really care with what other people wear and on the other hand I don’t really think I need to adjust myself to what others wear In my field of work (NGOs) most people wear jeans, t-shirts/shirts and sneakers or flats. But I wear whatever I want, which is mostly not considered as conventional by most of my friends/colleagues. I am known for that Gladly there is no dress code in NGO field except those times when you have to meet government officials and thankfully people who work in NGOs are mostly very respectful about it.

What do you think that we women can do that is applicable in today’s situation and simple enough to keep the spirit of Kartini alive?

Always have in mind that we, women, can do whatever we want if we work as hard and as long as it doesn’t violate other people’s rights. Always have the confidence and faith in ourselves and do not settle for less even when other people or the society says that our portions have been decided for us. Because women have rights and choices and let’s exercise that in our daily life And let’s teach this paradigm of equality to our children, boys and girls so that in near future all discrimination against women can be eliminated.

How did you find out about Fashionese Daily and what made you stick with us until now?

One time I stumbled upon a multiply blog that has pictures of Today’s Outfits, I didn’t really pay attention on who was the owner of the blog. One day I remembered about that blog and was trying to find it to no avail. So I googled the words ‘Today’s Outfit’ and Voila! I found Fashionese Daily And I was instantly addicted to it. What I really like about is that I found a lot of people who share the same passion for fashion. I also learned a lot about make up (I wasn’t so much of a makeup junkie back then).

I also got a lot of information on what’s going on in the fashion world and that’s very resourceful for me since I got to say that I am not the kind of person who buy fashion magazines regularly so I am not really in the know of it. Most importantly I made a lot of new friends from online to offline, and some of them even became my best friends. That’s it. I never leave Fashionese Daily ever since.

Lastly, what do you think the perk in reading Fashionese Daily and become the member of Female Daily forum?

Other than making a lot of new friends, I got to say it’s learning how to use makeup the correct way because previously I really don’t know how to use makeup. I didn’t even know how to use eyeliner!

I also like the fact that FD organized so many offline social gatherings, which also allowed me to score many prizes. Sekali dayung dua tiga pulau terlampaui hehehe.