Fashion designer Ika Butoni
Ika Butoni is an Indonesian-born, Hong Kong-based fashion designer whose collections are all about the detail - from wild printed pants to figure-hugging cocktail dresses.
"I've always been interested in painting since I was growing up in Bali surrounded by nature. It was only after I spent time in Hong Kong that I got into fashion. When I design, I'm always thinking about creating jobs, in particular in developing countries such as Indonesia, India and China.
That's why my designs incorporate a lot of handiwork: appliqué, knits, macramé, embroidery, beading, piping, and knotting, all of which are used in my collections. In Bali, in 2000, I started a small group of artisans making knotted macramé necklaces. Today, most of them have become maestros. I'm so happy to assist them with better stones to add value to the handmade art.
My idea of luxury is when art is presented from the heart, without calculating what price it will fetch. When these items are viewed and sold, they are not corrupted by people's greed.
I don't see luxury in modern women today because many hang on to branded products just to make themselves feel secure, instead of understanding what they look good in and appreciating what they paid for.
I had a client from South Africa who was a Fortune 500 lady; her husband was a minister. She flew out for one day each month to pack her suitcase with Ika Butoni. She owned a gold mine, yet she bought handmade necklaces as she appreciated the art. She would wear them next to the Princess of Monaco, Oprah Winfrey and Naomi Campbell, and while she was accompanying her husband to events. She did not want others to know where she bought her outfits, that's why she did not mind spending a million dollars for each trip to pay for her flight and accommodation.