DIANA COUTURE SS21 – HOPE

2020: The Year of Hope is a collaborative project between the renowned Indonesian mother and son duo, Fashion Designer Diana M Putri of Diana Couture and Fashion Photographer and now Director Reinhardt Kenneth. Premiering at Thailand Fashion Week S/S 2021, powered by Aston Martin Bangkok, the project births a collection presented through a fashion film, one that focuses on the idea of “finding hope, through unity, in times of adversity”. It gravitates towards an aim to reflect 2020’s tragedies through a very diverse cast of fashionable muses, each representing a different issue from this horrific year.

This project collides both creative in two different continents (Diana in Indonesia and Reinhardt in Los Angeles) to work together virtually uniquely this pandemic. Even though most of their planned projects from this year had to be postponed, they still wanted to present a project, one that is relevant to our times and tells a story of hope through fashion.

THE PROCESS
Reinhardt came up with the narrative of a very diverse, yet divided group of girls in a very hopeless “room of thought”, to only find hope in the end of the video while they are all united. The vision that he got was brief, yet powerful, as if it was a message of kindness and compassion transcended in his artistic mind. On what set out to be his Directorial Debut, he approached to contact his long time collaborator and mother, Diana to design “pieces that feel like there’s a ball in the apocalypse, mask included”, and the rest is history.

While the video features a more dramatized yet literal approach to the concept, Diana proceeded to combine her two best features, the elegant and the daring. She wanted to create something that still fits the “Diana Couture woman”, yet in the apocalypse. This collection birthed 13 bodysuits with matching face masks, featuring the finest materials, such as bandages, faux leather, Swarovski crystals, metallic studs, iridescent leather, and the finest taffeta and tulle. These opulent yet daring looks are finished with 3D encrusting, ruffling, and laser cutting techniques.

While Diana designs the looks, Reinhardt chose the perfect diverse group of 7 muse(s) featured in the video;
• Jessica Belkin (American Horror Story / Pretty Little Liars Star)
• Duda Castro (Miss Brazil 2009)
• Cheverly Amalia (LA based Indonesian Film Director, Model, and Singer)
• Jaslene Whiterose (LA-based Instagram Influencer)
• Tiffanie Marie (LA-based Model, Dancer, and Creative)
• Cole Woods (Modelpreneur & Mentor)
• Yasmeen “YAS” Al-Mazeedi (Music Producer & Violinist, previously have worked with Selena Gomez, John Legend, Kanye West, Miley Cyrus, and many more).

Each girl represents a different tragedy this year that they’re passionate about, whether that being COVID-19, Black Lives Matter, Anti-Xenophobia, Trans Lives, War & Famine, Wildfires, etc. They all represent a struggle and hopelessness in the “room of thought”, as they finally escape into a chaotic world, but one that’s basked with a light of hope.

While shooting the collection at the iconic Millenium Biltmore (venue for Hollywood movies and shows such as A Star is Born, Beverly Hills 90210, Charlie’s Angels, The Bodyguard, Glee, etc ; music videos for Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, and many more), the entire team of 40 people wasn’t just talented, they were extremely mindful. Safety protocols such as temperature check, COVID-19 testing result requirements, wearing (a very fashionable Diana Couture X Clariskin) Face Mask, (Olivia Garden) Face Shields, as well as gloves, and last but not least, encouraging constant sanitation on hands and equipment were highly enforced, helping this production become a very safe space for every creative.

Together, Diana, Reinhardt, and the entire team of incredible creative would like to present a fashion film that doesn’t just showcase the fashion in it’s finest form, but one that tells a powerful story of coming together, if only we can come united, that’s when true hope will prevail.

Diana M Putri
Fashion Designer Diana Putri of Diana Couture has been named as The Best Designer by Global Fashion Avenue in New York Fashion Week’s S/S 2016 Season. Diana’s clients range from royalties, Hollywood celebrities, and notable socialites. Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, Janet Jackson, H.R.H Princess Kristine De Bagration of Georgia, Carrie Underwood, Camila Cabello, Meghan Trainor, Jamie Chua, Toni Braxton are only some of the many names whom Diana have dressed.

Reinhardt Kenneth
LA-based Indonesian Fashion & Celebrity Photographer Reinhardt Kenneth was a prodigy at just 14. He was discovered by Vogue Italia’s late Franca Sozzani, and have ever since been featured in the likes of The Louvre, Vogue Italia, Art Basel Miami, and many other prestigious platforms. His ability to transform a social message/issue into fashionable yet thought-provoking imagery has granted him a true platform of creation and revolution.