#AKuJFWBlogger Series: Interview with I.K.Y.K

Can you tell us a bit about I.K.Y.K.?

Our brand is all about modest wear and women’s wear. Basically, the concept of this season (S/S 2018) is all about self appreciation — how you respect yourself and such. Our previous collection used a lot of earthy tones and earth colors. In this season we wanted to show something more mature, more bold, so we used colors like red, strong navy, maroon, and oxblood.

We also used more evening fabrics like satin, silk, organza, and tulle. In our previous collection, our main fabrics were more casual – like cotton, linen. But in this collection we wanted to step forward. We wanted something that someone could wear in the evening also, so we used those kinds of fabrics.

Can you talk more about the red colors, the striking pallete you chose for your collection during Jakarta Fashion Week 2018?

I wanted to create something eye-catching but still something I would like to wear, because this collection is all about myself and things I can wear also. Sometimes designers design things but don’t even wear them. This time I wanted a collection where I can wear everything. I can wear it in the evening, in the day, at night, in a casual way, in a formal way.
About the red and maroon, I guess there’s something about strong colors that I like to wear it. I like them because they’re so strong yet feminine also. You know, like powerful but still romantic at the same time. So, I guess red is the best color.

Can you talk more about the modest wear trend, what it means, and its popularity?

Sometimes I’m thinking that modest wear here is associated more with Muslim wear. But what I.K.Y.K.  is about is modest wear in a global way. It means that you can wear clothes without showing too much skin but can still be fashionable and stylish. That’s what I.K.Y.K. wants to show to the global market. You can be very powerful, very cool, and very trendy while we cover ourselves.

And how do you transform a very modest piece into something very chic and trendy?

I guess it’s all about the feeling. The emotions. When I make a piece, I style it and then I wear it. Because day by day I have to be myself. The inspiration is basically from myself and from my mom. My mom also wears hijab and I can see myself in her. People are always talking about how I am more like my mom. We are so much like twin sisters. I can see my shape in her, so I guess I think to myself… "How do I keep this modest wear line trendy?:

Trendy clothes or, how I represent myself first. Then I style them in my own way. I don’t follow the trends, like the modest wear trend in Indonesia. I want to create something like, “This is I.K.Y.K.. This is I.K.Y.K. modest wear.” Not like your regular modest wear, you know what I mean? So, this is like modest wear in an I.K.Y.K. way.

And what are some trends in the modest wear realm?

And lastly, you were talking about how you’d wear all of these pieces. Do you have a favorite?