Firstly, when Dynand Fariz (Dynand
Faris) who was born in Garahan Village, Silo Sub district, Jember, May 23, 1963
talked about his idea to make a sensational fashion carnival as Rio de Janerio
Carnival - Brazil, in his hometown Jember, many people thought that his idea actually only a nonsense crazy
dream.
Jember is a small town, about 190
kilometers southwest of Surabaya, the capital of East Java. Home to a mixture
of Javanese and Maduranese cultures, Jember is also a stronghold for
traditional Islam. In its early days, there were waves of resistance from
elders and Muslim figures in Jember, who assumed the fashion carnival, would
only bring harm and bad influences to the peaceful town.
"But I believe the JFC is not
simply throwing a glamorous party. It's a creative forum and can only be
understood from creative and artistic perspectives," he said to the media.
Fortunately he was going on with his
idea and beliefs although resistance still popping up here and
there.
The idea to have a carnival on the
streets delivered by Dynand at the launch of Dynand Fariz House of Design in
1998, however, it was not until three years later that Dynand dared to kick off
with a smaller event, called simply "Dynand Fariz Fashion Week.” This small event is a testing and warming up,
to see the public reaction also to learn how to run a colossal street fashion
event.
Actually, what was referred to “Fariz
Dynand Fashion Week" is just a small event involving the internal Dynand
Fariz Design House. The employees obliged to wear designs inspired by world
fashion trends for a week. Following to this, the event was then taken on tour
around kampongs and to the city's main square for a whole week.
Referring to the results of a small
festival that he organized, then in the end of 2002, Dynand said he was ready
to take the show to the streets. However, this only materialized after an
arduous and knotty bureaucratic process, scrutinized before he was allowed the
permission to hold the event.
Then in conduction with the city’s (the
city of his childhood and adolescence as well) January 1, 2003, the first
unusual, strange and craziness Fashion Carnival firstly been held… Of course,
the event had “successfully” divided the city -- for and against. Apparently,
it was a serious concern that the carnival involved transvestite models. Dynand
says, however, he cannot be bothered entering into the ongoing debates.
Beside made a new color of the city,
the carnival has a charm of its own, quickly drawing media attention and an
increasing number of guests from other cities. In the recent years, international
media also giving focus to the small town covering the event, as if it was
something they have long been waiting for.
The JFC team soon realized their
presence had been noticed. Invitations to participate in large and well-known
fashion events at home and abroad were on their way. They already involved in
Bali Fashion Week, Fashion Street Kuta Karnival Bali, an exhibition with
Nusantara Culture and Foundation, the World Scout Jamboree's Indonesian Day in
London, and the Indonesian Reception Day in Mumbay, India.
Initially he was not a fashion practitioner.
Dynand is a graduate of Surabaya Teachers' Training
Institute (IKIP Surabaya). Soon after graduated from his Alma mater then he
admitted as a lecturer there. However, Dynand think that by working as a
lecturer, he will less have challenge. Then
he decided to retired as lecturers then he try to follow a Fashion Scholarship
Program sponsored by ESMOD and accepted.
In ESMOD Jakarta Dynand becomes a
brilliant student, he got an opportunity to explore his capacity in fashion by
sending him to learn in ESMOD Paris, France.
Upon his return from Paris, he
immediately set up a fashion house, which named "House of Dynand,” his
fashion house oriented to the world fashion trends. Dynand, who is also ESMOD
staff teacher, determined to build his hometown. Then he was inspired by the
exhibition in Paris fashion, and fashion exhibitions in other cities. He begun
to dream; some time in future his hometown Jember become one of fashion center
of the country even the world. A crazy dream Dynand!
Communicate his idea.
"It is
quite difficult to Jember accept this, because the city is famous for his
religious. While many groups have criticized because they think our event is
not good, open the private parts, and so forth, but they have never seen. Then
I invite them to see, and it turns out not at all, like they imagined. " Said Dynand sometimes ago
to the media.
Communication and approach, which is
probably one of Dynand’s key successes in capturing the hearts of the people, for
adherents of Islam, dress code is a sensitive one, because it is part of the
main rules of their religion. Dynand seems quite successfully communicate his
ideas without having to hurt their belief.
Dreams and Hopes
Jember was thrilled when JFC was
first present on January 1, 2003, in conjunction with the anniversary of the
City Jember. Not all went smoothly. Challenges and barriers began to keep
coming. There are of course pros and cons.
However, Jember Fashion Carnival
continues every year starting from JFC-01, JFC-2 (held on August 2003), JFC-3,
up to JFC-10 dated July 24, 2011. Every year is different. Dynand and his team
kept trying to rising up the JFC
standard. For that, Dynand open free training to all participants about the
fashion, both in terms of design and technique.
JFC is truly unique, always provides
different theme every year following the world trend, the participants just
ordinary people from almost every group, costume made of recycling, the
original design, teens of thousand audience, and additional attractions that
make JFC a complete mass show from fashion to art.
Now, JFC has become part of the
international fashion calendar with its own characteristics. I think it is very
hard to find in other parts of the world, how prisoners waddle out clothes in
public for a fashion event. Glorious fashion made of recycling and made by an
ordinary, a fashion carnival that everyone involved.
May only be found in Jember Fashion
Carnival!
So far, in every carnival Dynand
always brings a new theme with universal coverage. It seems he would like to invite everyone not to hesitate to build dreams and always to revive
hopes. Just as he had done to his
beloved city.
