Ash & Lilac

We met Jenny while she was back in town for her summer break. The Indonesian studied fashion in Singapore before going on to school in London, and says she counts the British city as her favourite place. “There’s an energy there, and people are warmer and friendlier.” She hopes to work in a small fashion house after she graduates, but would also love to start her own label one day. She describes her design aesthetic as “conceptual meets ready-to-wear”, and counts Craig Green, Yohji Yamamoto, and Jacquemus as some of her design inspirations at the moment. “For me, fashion is a form of liberation. It allows me to hone my creativity and create beautiful things, which is very gratifying,” Jenny says. “Unfortunately, there is a social stigma that comes with being in this industry.” It seems that Jenny was born to be creative, and she remembers being craft ever since she was young. “One of my most successful creations was a ‘roller coaster’ theme park that I set up in my dad’s garden. It was basically me pushing people on a wheeled chair at high speed as I narrated a ghost story. I still can’t believe that people paid me for that — the good old times!” In her free time nowadays, however, the self-professed homebody says she does a lot of reading and cooking. “I enjoy my peace and quiet more than most people.” It seems like that’s her way of coping with the demands of school life, which she says can be trying. “It can be really difficult but I am lucky to be surrounded by a very supportive group of friends and family. Over the years I find the best way for me to cope is to plan my days right down to the T. It keeps me motivated and helps to draw the line between my personal time and work.”