What We Can Learn From Citayam Fashion Week: an Urban Perspective (1/3)
Inspired by Fashion Week across the globe, Citayam Fashion Week (CFW) emerged in Jakarta and has quickly captured mass media attention. It has become one of the most memorable phenomenons in 2022 in Indonesia. But how does that happens? Why is CFW being held in Jakarta, not in Citayam itself? This article will explain how an excellent and affordable transportation system combined with the third place theory can improve people’s activities.
Only 3k Away From City Life
The people who started CFW come from suburban areas in Greater Jakarta Region, predominantly from Citayam, Bojong Gede, and Depok. For people living in suburban, it was difficult to find an excellent public space with very little development.
As satellite cities, their public transportation, specifically railway (commuter line), has become very integrated with Central Jakarta. It is one of the essential factors for these areas since most people there commute to work in Jakarta. It is a great investment to quicken the economic sector in Greater Jakarta by people commuting every day at a flat rate of 3000 rupiahs, 20 cents in USD. During the busy hour, this train headway is around 10 minutes, which is faster than any intercity train in Indonesia. With very distinct living costs and housing prices between the dense metropolitan Jakarta and its satellite cities, it is a no-brainer for the working class to stay with their family in the suburb and commute daily to the city. It was a significant decision to improve the economic aspect with some aspects that were not originally intended.
Imagine yourself as a teenager in one of those satellite cities. With 3000 rupiahs in your hand, you can go to Jakarta by train, which only takes one to two hours. Then, you will be welcomed with a huge public space, surrounded by gigantic towers, with the kind of hustle-bustle city life you don’t have in your less developed cities. Moreover, there are some affordable (and some not) retail options. What a great way to hang out, right? With only 3000 rupiahs, you could feel the city atmosphere without living there. But why this place? Why don’t these teenagers go somewhere else with the same fare?
Public Space as Third Place
To know CFW succession, we must understand that hangout places have a ‘scientific’ name followed by some theories. Every element, zebra cross, pedestrian, and even tunnel, is a part of CFW in this area. CFW areas are free or inexpensive. While not essential, access to food and drink is important. It is highly accessible for many (within walking distance). It involves regulars — those who habitually congregate there. It is welcoming and comfortable. You can find both new friends and old ones there. These characteristics in the CFW area are what Ray Oldenburg (1982) defined as a true ‘third place.’
The third place provides a responsive area for the individual reality constructions of its participants. Oldenburg stated that third place is important for civil society, democracy, civic engagement, and establishing feelings of a sense of place. Oldenburg said that the ‘first place’ is the home. The ‘second place’ is the workplace — where people may spend most of their time. The ‘third place’ are ‘anchors’ of community life and facilitate and foster broader, more creative interaction.
CFW is in Dukuh Atas Transit Oriented Development. Dukuh Atas is where Jakarta MRT, the commuter line for Greater Jakarta, TransJakarta BRT, and a future-line LRT exist. These developments provide a multi-mode transit area in the center of Jakarta and other attractions such as parks and commercials. These teenagers can experience the city’s lifestyle just by visiting this place. There are some mobile beverage sellers called ‘starling,’ an abbreviation from ‘Starbucks keliling’ or ‘mobile Starbucks,’ that are not affiliated with Starbucks at all. These people ride bikes and bring hot and cold water in a thermos, plastic cups, and some sachets of coffee, tea, etc. The price range is between 2000 to 7000 rupiahs or 15 to 60 cents in USD. The third place theory characteristics apply in Dukuh Atas TOD, where all these people flock.
Why has CFW Gone Viral?
Thrifting fashion culture is a fashion trend consisting of used or inexpensive clothing. The culture has exponentially risen since the pandemic. It is also a great way to express their fashion style using affordable clothes they bought primarily online. They use this thrifting fashion culture to boost their confidence. They also use the zebra cross as their catwalk. They create their world using their surrounding elements for their respective purpose. They called this area their Citayam Fashion Week. They still use Citayam, not Jakarta, since they predominantly came from satellite cities, mostly Citayam. It is how they proudly identify themselves.
So there it is. A huge crowd of suburban teenagers with thrifty fashion styles hang around a zebra cross. This phenomenon rarely happens in Indonesia. And then, like bees, content creators start swarming around to make content for social media. They started interviewing these teenagers and showing their humble personalities. This phenomenon is getting bigger, making people from all over come to this CFW and hang out there too. This space became more lively and can be considered a successful third place.
Conclusion
Citayam Fashion Week is a unique phenomenon that became a great example of how a third place exists. It is an example of how government investment in good public transportation and public space can make a pleasant living experience. Citayam Fashion Week is a celebration of space, a great way to connect, express, and live.
References:
Oldenburg, R., & Brissett, D. (1982). The third place. Qualitative Sociology, 5(4), 265–284. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00986754
