Russia & Indonesia: Horizons of Beauty

A delegation from Indonesia headed by the Rector of the Islamic Institute Umm ul-Kura, Saifula Falah, visited Russia in early November this year. There were also a teacher at the University of Ibn Khaldun, IRD Batik and Fashion esigner Indriya Rusman, Noor magazine Editor-in-Chief, Seri Antaria Alishahbana, designer Amalia Aam and entrepreneur Fadlianti Sharif. The honoured guests were invited by their colleagues from Dagestan Humanitarian and Pedagogical College.

Indonesia Muslim Fashion Industry Makes Its Rules

The Indonesians travelled to Moscow to the southern republic of Russia – Dagestan. Here they got acquainted with the local sights, visited the Muftiyat and the Spiritual Centre named after the Prophet Isa (peace be upon him) that is currently under construction and also had a meeting with colleagues from the Humanitarian and Pedagogical College in Makhachkala. Within the framework of the meeting the Rectors of the Indonesian university and Dagestan College enhanced relations between the two Muslim countries by signing a memorandum of understanding and cooperation.

During their stay the honoured guests visited the editorial office of the As-Salam newspaper and told our correspondent about the development of the Muslim fashion industry in Indonesia and why ordinary models are not so popular in their country.

On Islamic Fashion

Speaking about the development of the Islamic fashion industry in Indonesia, the chief editor of Noor magazine, Seri Antaria Alishahbana, described how her edition was the first in the country in that field.

The sphere of publishing Islamic fashion was very difficult to enter. Firstly, there were not enough skilled women’s photographers who could shoot a collection of clothes appropriately, as most were accustomed to practices of photography practiced in the secular industry. Thus Seri Antaria Alishahbana had to re-educate her photographers over a considerable period of time.

Secondly, female models usually invited to fashion shows were not appropriate for posing in Muslim clothing.

Therefore Seri Antaria decided to invite for photo shoots only practicing Muslim women who were wore hijab in everyday life. “A secular professional female model cannot truly show the charm of the hijab and the modesty of a Muslim woman, since, as we know, the task of such models is the opposite - to attract attention or even to shock the audience. They are not able to evoke the modesty of a Muslim woman either in clothing or through their appearance,” the editor of Noor believes.

“There were technical difficulties as well. For example, in order to hold a clothing fashion show in compliance with Islamic rules, it was necessary to exclude men from the entire process of organizing the event. We thus had not only female photographers, but electricians, stage workers and other technical staff as well”.

Today, Seri Antaria Alishahbana has stopped issuing her magazine, which took so much energy and strength, as she considers that her task is completed. Modern Indonesia has now formed its own Islamic beauty industry.

Indriya Rusman, designer of IRD Batik