Didi Budiardjo: Collecting stories for fashion ideas

The Jakarta Post | Feature | Sun, November 04 2012, 1:18 PM

Paper Edition | Page: 7

Fashion designer Didi Budiardjo is known for his contemporary and chic designs. He started his career as an apprentice to Susan Budiardjo in 1989 before going to Paris, France to study at Atelier Fleuri Delaporte. The 49-year-old designer has been an avid reader since he was a child and has a collection of over 800 books.

“I like art and shadow puppetry among many other things. I even have some cook books — even though I don’t cook. I believe that good designers should have a million stories or their works would be boring — we need to have variety to our reading to stimulate our ideas,” he told The Jakarta Post.

Children literature stories

My mother subscribed to a number of children’s magazines as well as an encyclopedia for me when I was a kid. I still remember one particular comic book every two weeks or so. If I am not mistaken, the title was 1001 Cerita Ternama (1001 Famous Stories).

The comic book contained different stories in every edition, such as Oliver Twist, Ramayana or the works of Jules Verne. They were published in Indonesian. I don’t think this publication exists anymore.
 
Cristobal Balenciaga by Marie-Andree Jouve

To me, the greatest fashion designer in the world is Cristobal Balenciaga. I have a limited edition of a book about him, which has taught me a lot of things. I especially learned about his perfection. He showed that it was not easy to make perfect couture. A designer should learn many things and be precise and meticulous.  

Laskar Pelangi (Rainbow Troops) by Andrea Hirata

Books that stay in my memory are the ones that have touched my heart. This novel is the kind of book I cannot put down until I have finished reading it. It is moving and very well written.

— Indah Setiawati