Time flies so quickly, like a blink of an eye, a flash of an arrow. This is what flew across my mind as I flip through Ibu Martha Tilaar’s new book, The True Exotic Colors of Indonesia: Sejarah Perjalanan Trend Warna 1987 – 2012. The book is a walk down memory lane in more ways than one – Sariayu and Ibu Martha’s lane, as well as my own lane, as Sariayu is so much a part of my coming of age.
I’ve always been into makeup. I was into performance arts since kindergarten, and makeup is a fun part of it. I got my first makeup palette as a present in the 7th grade. And by 10th grade I was doing putting makeup on my friends. So when the first Trend Warna set was out in 1987, I was there to ogle Senja di Sriwedari. The face of the collection was Astrid Darmawan who, along with her sister Sarah Darmawan, was the top models at that time. They were also national swim athletes, so they were role models in more ways than one. Incidentally, Sarah fronted the 1998 collection, Gaya Warna Disainer.
The 1989 collection, Sumatra Bergaya, is probably my most remembered collection from the 80’s. I remember buying something from that collection from toko De Zon (now known as Matahari) with my own money. I felt so grown up and ready for the world. That year, model Larasati would start her long reign as the face of Sariayu.
Flipping over the book, I don’t remember the collections until 1992, Riwayat Asmat. In hindsight, those were my early years of university, and I remember being very busy with studies, with no time for magazines, and too cash-strapped for going to the stores and buying makeup. But Riwayat Asmat was really very hard to miss, as it had a very striking campaign. At the time, Asmat wood carvings were starting to be popular works of art that is even sought by international collectors.
Other collections followed in the 90’s, but scanning over the images, my most remembered is Lenggang Betawi from 1995. The collection comprises of a set of neutrals and a set of jewel tones, but Larasati’s image in this campaign is what makes it unforgettable: the distinctive Betawi hat with a curtain of stones dangling all around the rim framing her haughty face. Could somebody tell me what is this hat called?
The 1990’s was ended with the Mentari Pagi Bromo collection fronted by Laura Antoninetta. I don’t actually remember this campaign, but I do remember this Laura (as opposed to Cinta Laura, Laura Basuki, Laura Mulyadi etc). Wondering what has happened to her, I consulted Mr. Google, who tells me she’s still pretty active modeling and acting.
If the the 1990’s was the Larasati decade, the 2000’s was definitely Dinna Olivia’s, at least in Sariayu-speak. Looking over the campaigns, I think she was probably the best match for Sariayu. She has the most ‘Indonesia-face’ (perhaps because unlike her predecessors, she is not of mixed Caucasian blood?) and probably the most neutral skin tone of all Sariayu models. Warm (gold orange) and cool (bubble gum blue-pink) colors look equally gorgeous on her. I think she allows Sariayu to put more bluish tone in their makeup (or perhaps the other way around?). I did, however, missed most of the collections of the early 2000’s. I think around that time I focused more on international brands because I was traveling more internationally, and could also afford more expensive makeup. It wasn’t until 2009 when I fell in love with a Sariayu collection again, Cantika Jawa Timur, which I even reviewed in this blog.
Twenty six years, that is more than half my lifetime, and perhaps the lifetime of many of you readers. It is humbling how much Sariayu has accomplished. The book not only looks back at the makeup, but also the Indonesian heritage being promoted with each collection. Along the way we learn a bit more about the Dayaks of Kalimantan, about Orang Betawi, about our batik motives, our gemstones, our rich ecological heritage and even our musical instruments. And with each campaign, Sariayu has supported leagues of creative advertising companies (hayo, siapa ingat Binamark? Do they still exist?), photographers, and clothing designers. There is one thing constant though: Sake and Yudin as the people behind the face 😀
Congratulations, Sariayu. Let’s look forward to another 26 years of life in color.
The True Exotic Colors of Indonesia is 320 pages drenched in colors and history, published by Gramedia Pustaka Utama. If you’re a makeup buff and/or fan of Sariayu and Ibu Martha Tilaar, you would probably enjoy this book. It is still available online, though probably not for long. I remember the complete campaigns used to be archived on Sariayu’s website, but I could not find it anymore, though this site have a complete spread.
Lastly, we have three books and five packages to give away, so if you want to be included in the draw, please post in the comment below about the oldest Sariayu Trend Warna collection that you remember, or your most favorite Trend Warna collection. Sorry, shipping only available in Indonesia. Deadline for the contest is 11 September 2012. And remember to follow @Sariayu_MT to be able to join this contest and also share your Twitter account on the comment box. Good luck!
