Just a girl with a dream

When I was burnt out, I went home to Indonesia to learn the mindful art of Batik. Connecting with the craft, my teachers, their stories...I found love in the process and great appreciation for the artisans who crafted these textiles in ways I never did before.

And in this appreciation, I also understood their stories and struggles...that the world is moving away from crafts, that preference for local goods are waning in favour of international items, that their life's work is no longer relevant.

This was my a-ha moment, inspiring me to delve deep into Indonesia's textile heritage. Heritage that span centuries. Heritage that is facing existential problems. Heritage that is worth celebrating. I wanted to be part of the movement that brings Indonesian crafts back to the hearts of the world...and so PEDASSS ATELIER was born.

"The arts, in all its forms = music, painting, journalism, poetry, cinema, image and fashion, are gifts to tell stories and shape who we are. How we feel. How we dream. How we see one another." - Willy Chavarria

I think about this quote a lot when I hold the textiles we work with at Pedasss Atelier. To the unknowing eye, they may seem like just another fabric. Yet they carry so much meaning, so much "story" and touched by so many hands.

When I speak with artisans, they share their fears; that their craft will vanish in the noise of modernity, replaced by machines that can print faster than their hands could ever create. And yet, every day they return to their looms and tools, on the off chance that the world might one day notice.

To me, this is devotion. This is hope.

I was born in Jakarta - a city of contradictions. Chaotic, alive, relentless. A place where struggle and opulence share the same streets, where sadness and joy sit side by side. It's a city that calls everyone "mbak" or "mas" - sister, brother - a reminder that we are kin even when life feels divided. Jakarta doesn't offer beauty easily; you have to lean into its noise, its traffic, its chaos. But within it there is strength, a spirit that never falters.

Holidays were spent in Yogyakarta. A place of calm, heritage and creativity - the epicenter of culture in Java. Where history feels palpable and nature reminds you to slow down. Yet, despite the different vibes and cultures of the two cities, the people carry the same warmth, the same generosity, the same unshakeable hope.

The Spirit of "Gotong Royong"

Indonesians taught me about community. Our islands are many, our cultures countless, yet what ties us together is the spirit of "gotong royong" - the belief that life is best lived when we lift one another. We are a people shaped by nature's unpredictability, by histories both glorious and painful, yet always moving forward with endurance, creativity and an unshakeable sense of hope.

These first collections of Pedasss Atelier are my love letters to the cities of Jakarta & Yogyakarta. They are an amplification of Indonesian craft, culture and the people who keep it alive.

Pedasss Atelier is the brainchild of multiple creative minds and collaborators who believe in the brand's vision.

From creative direction to photography, from design to craft, we were brought together by a shared mission of creating something with meaning and longevity.

Things that at last beyond seasons and forms the antithesis of this fast moving world and the industry of fast fashion.

What you see here is more than a fashion brand; it is a reminder that beauty can endure, if we choose to hold on to it. I am honoured to share this vision with you.

sincerely, AK - founder

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