By Honorary Reporter Mohammad Aksol Muntaha from Indonesia
Photos = Diana M. Putri

"Born Pink," the latest album of the K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, quickly topped major charts abroad after its release like Billboard. Besides great songs, the foursome also fueled high anticipation over their outfits as their sense of style strongly influences global fashion. 

For a music video and its album jacket, BLACKPINK chose a prominent Indonesian fashion designer, Diana M. Putri, to make the outfits. Based in Surabaya, she gave me an interview on Oct. 15 via WhatsApp, excerpts of which are below.

Please introduce yourself.
I started my career as a fashion designer in 2010. My signature on my designs is simple with a detailed highlight. I am also a TV personality, fashion guru for dangdut (an Indonesian music genre) competition and ambassador for multiple brands. I taught myself fashion design.

Diana M. Putri also works as a TV personality.

How did you get to collaborate with BLACKPINK?
I knew that it was almost impossible to collaborate with BLACKPINK except through its management agency YG Entertainment. On Feb. 16 this year, however, I received an Instagram message from the group's stylist Park Min-hee, who requested several of my pieces from the Los Angeles and Indonesian showrooms for BLACKPINK's upcoming comeback. 

In under 24 hours, I had to send multiple looks to Seoul within four days. Fortunately, those pieces led to three placements for the photoshoot for the "Born Pink" album jacket. Lisa, Rose and Jisoo all wore pieces from "Cyber Couture Collection 2021." Six months later, YG requested more stuff from me for the music video of the song "Shut Down," and all four members wore my pieces.

BLACKPINK wore pieces from Putri's "Cyber Couture Collection 2021" for the group's new album.

What any challenges did you face during this collaboration?
The time differences among Korea, Los Angeles and Indonesia posed a few challenges. Moreover, I could only guess the sizes of the members since I had no information. Yet these obstacles developed my skills to handle a range of clients and situations.

How would you describe the couture worn by the group?
I want to praise the group's stylist for successfully mixing and matching Diana Couture with other outfits. Lisa's style is avant-garde and swag, Rose's rock and roll, Jisoo's royal princess, and Jennie's burlesque and old Hollywood.

What do you think about the development of fashion in Korea and Indonesia?
Fashion in Korea is developed, especially for ready-to-wear outfits. Korea has good quality for such clothing. Indonesia's industry is in the experimental stage but needs a strong foundation to venture into the global market.

As the first Indonesian fashion designer to collaborate with BLACKPINK, what is your message for aspiring designers?
I achieved one of my goals of becoming a bridge between Indonesia and K-pop groups thanks to perseverance and hard work and got to dress notable women like Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj and Camilla Cabello. So while I encourage other aspiring designers to also have perseverance and hard work, they must also not forget faith and self-love as important to their careers.

The designer has made national costumes and COVID-19 masks for her country.

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.