Jakarta-based Nikicio, the label’s founder and creative director, describes the inspiration behind Mixté 07 as “a laidback skater girl with effortless style, a nomad, a light traveller – a collection for the coolest people, with the coolest style”.
The complete “get up and go out” range was born from a single idea based on her fascination with skateboarders – the culture, vibe, movement – and the lifestyle to which it alludes.
“I can imagine waking up, grabbing your jacket, keys and walking out with your skateboard to buy fresh flowers and breakfast,” Nikicio says.
Drawing on inspirations such as the Baroque period and Italian surrealist couturier Elsa Schiaparelli, the collection started with the designer digitally printed a three-dimensional trompe l’oeil-style image of a Norwegian knit on to silk – a look that also has a snakeskin aesthetic.
“I said, ‘why (don’t) we have a heavy knitted print on something light?’,” Nikicio says.
“I like the contradiction of it”.
Taking this a step further, she created three-dimensional polka dot images for certain items and later teamed up with Indonesia’s Kandura Keramik to include delicately crafted porcelain beads constructed from bone china in a move to further the sense of contradiction – think “dainty” meets urban skater chic.
This latest collection is made from not only silk but also soft baby goat and lamb leather, fine knitted cotton and wool, chambray and bleached denim in a monochromatic range of purely black, white and grey offerings.
Since founding the label in 2007, Nikicio’s designs have become synonymous with the expressive, quirky and original – traits fast winning plaudits from the fashion industry.
She was last year named Elle magazine Indonesia’s Best Young Indonesian Designer of the Year who, in 2009, also touted her as Most Watched Designer of the Year.
In 2008 she was a finalist in Young Singapore Designer of the Year and earlier this year was profiled in Rolling Stone Indonesia as part of The Fashion Machine Editor’s Choice Awards.
This is a fashion force to watch – a designer who’s pushing the boundaries in style.
“I want to challenge the notion of (the) fashion world. No trends, no seasons, no fads. My clothes have to be able to be worn and last forever.”
