Dulux took the runways of Jakarta Fashion Week in October to unveil its 2015 Color of the Year, copper orange, through Dulux Presents Indonesia Fashion Forward.
(Photos courtesy of Feminagroup )
Tempus fugit, or time flies, said the Latin poet Virgil — it certainly does as in a little over a month, we will again bid farewell to yet another year and welcome 2015.
For Indonesia, 2014 was riddled with political and economic uncertainty. First legislative then presidential elections rocked the nation with political spats that spilled heatedly onto social media, pushing people to take sides in a divide Indonesia has never witnessed before.
The storm finally showed signs of settling in October, when the country embraced a new president and an equally inspiring administration.
Seemingly overnight, a wave of optimism washed over the archipelago as its people finally breathed a sigh of relief and looked to the rapidly approaching year of 2015 with the feeling that things are looking up for Indonesia.
It is more than fitting then, that Netherlands-based coating company AkzoNobel’s brand of Dulux paints recently named “copper orange” as its Color of the Year 2015.
“Copper orange represents positivity,” said Jeremy Rowe, managing director of AkzoNobel decorative paints for Southeast and South Asia.
Each year since 2000, Dulux announces its forecast for the color trend for the following year in what it calls its Color Futures series.
Rowe insists the range don’t simply consist of hues the company mixes itself to market to a global audience.
“We’re not trying to invent the trend, but [we look at] what’s happening around the world,” said Rowe.
Each year, according to Rowe, a team of experts at the AkzoNobel Global Aesthetic Center meet up with representatives from different creative fields to discuss the economic and social phenomena happening around the world and how they affect the people.
They then translate these phenomena into one specific color that they predict would shine and prevail throughout the upcoming year.
The Color of the Year for 2014 was teal.
This year’s shade of copper orange made its debut at the 2015 Jakarta Fashion Week (JFW) in October — the first time Dulux chose to reveal its choice through a fashion-related event.
“We feel that JFW is the best way to link the color, the mood and the fashion,” said Rowe.
Four talented up-and-coming Indonesian designers, Eridani, Faustine Arthaputri, Prita Widyaputri and Friederich Herman, were invited to present a special collection based of the 2015 color with Dulux Presents Indonesia Fashion Forward.
What resulted was an inspiring range of earth-toned items — from dresses and caftans to jackets and jewelry — that are sure to be a common sight on runways the world over next year.
“Copper orange is a natural color, yet it also has a strong urban impression,” said Friederich.
The designer, who plans to pursue a master’s degree in fashion design and communication in Milan next year, describes the shade as what falls between terracotta and sunset.
A model showcases designs by Milcah at the Dulux Presents Indonesia Fashion Forward show on Nov. 2, 2014 in Jakarta. (Photo courtesy of Feminagroup)
Friederich combined the color with navy blue, gray and white to create cocktail and evening dresses made of silk gazar and organza that looked both chic and elegant.
“Copper orange is indeed a versatile color,” Friederich added. “It can be mixed-and-matched to create many beautiful color combinations.”
Prita Widyaputri presented her premium label “N.F.R.T” which sported items in a paler version of copper orange that were fun and sassy, particularly the line’s cotton and silk chiffon dresses, which she combined with jackets and vests made of bronze lame to create a more glam look.
“Copper orange for me represents youth and dynamism,” said LaSalle College and Esmod Jakarta graduate. “That’s why I have created a collection that’s light and comfortable for active women.”
Faustine Arthaputri, who presented her ready-to-wear label “Milcah” during the special presentation for Dulux, explained the color “makes the wearer look open, warm and friendly.”
To emphasize this, the 2011 Cleo Fashion Award winner created light and flowing dresses with silk chiffon and cotton. The designer embellished some of her fashion items with borders made from batik and lurik (handwoven fabric from Central Java) to reflect a exotic look.
Knowing the color trend of the upcoming year is crucial for Faustine.
“Fashion designers should always know the upcoming trends and colors so that we can anticipate the market demands,” she said.
Meanwhile, Eridani presented his ready-to-wear label “8eri,” which consists of alluring cocktail dresses in soft orange hues. Embellishments of ruffles and draperies gave some of the items an adorable twist to what was otherwise a sexy collection.
“[The fashion show was] a fantastic display of our 2015 Color Futures selection,” said Jun De Dios, president director of ICI Paints Indonesia, the local distributor for Dulux paints.
De Dios praised the designers involved in the show for creating tasteful and elegant designs that perfectly translated the sense of confidence and optimism of 2015’s color of the year, copper orange.
“Into interiors, our [copper orange] breathes warmth,” De Dios said. “And it really comes alive when combined with pink, clay-toned neutrals, crisp whites, wood tones and of course, copper.”
For more fashion and interior design inspirations, visit Dulux’s Color Futures website at Colourfutures.com.
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