Money Talks, Fashion Walks: A Textile Motif Exploration in Womenswear Using 1960s Rupiah Banknote

Abstract

This project-based research examined the explorations of the Soekarno-Irian Barat Rupiah banknotes' visual element as textile motifs, which were then produced into a womenswear collection using the digital printing technique. The topic was chosen based on the phenomenon among the society that often sees money only as a payment tool, while actually, it bears more meanings for a nation, including historical, cultural, and political messages, which makes it eligible to be also known as a cultural heritage product that deserves to be preserved. One alternative to preserving the visual elements of a cultural heritage product is through textile and fashion products application. The project started with literature studies and interviews; explorations of motifs, designs, materials, and also style studies; and was completed with fabric and garments production. The considerations behind the aforementioned aspects in the methodology were made through a design thinking framework with mixed-methodological approach which combines qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. The intended impact of this practice work is to create a new perspective towards banknotes as a case study for cultural heritage artefacts whose design elements can be preserved through product application in the creative industry, such as textile and fashion products.