The Look of Aisyah Putri The Series: Jibab in Love
To categorize Indonesian TV show Aisyah Putri The Series: Jilbab in Love as a Muslim show would be a misnomer. The same rule holds true for wardrobe/costume designer Gratannia Panjaitan’s work on the show. Her creations for this hugely popular series present the hijab in a myriad of ways, a reflection of the individuality that exists among teens of this area and their faith. As a Christian herself, creating modern designs for a show about teens who happen to be Muslim, Panjaitan is a perfect example of how the arts can cultivate understanding and affinity for all peoples. It was for her artistic sensibilities that Director Gita Asmara sought out Gratannia as wardrobe/costume designer for Aisyah Putri The Series: Jilbab in Love. The two had worked together on a number of successful TV productions with famed Indonesian actress Nikita Willy. Panjaitan has become known for her bold and fun styles for teenagers, as in the production Semua Sayang Eneng.
Aisyah Putri The Series: Jilbab in Love is an Indonesian musical comedy drama series adapted from a novel with the same title about hijab teenagers. Consisting of one hundred-four episodes, it was the most popular and most highly rated show during its time. While many characters are part of the show, it centers around a female high school student named Aisyah Putri. She has a very loving family with strong religious values. While she does in fact wear a hijab, she is a highly active, confident, and smart young lady. Her group of friends are very religious and also display a variety of differing personalities which encompass what it’s like to be a teenage girl. Balancing their spiritual views while navigating their studies and friendship displays to viewers that they are essentially like young women everywhere. Describing the wardrobe of the main character/actress, Panjaitan states, “Anna Gilbert is very much ‘Aisyah Putri’ in real life. She wears a hijab, is very modest, and kind. She trusted me with the outfit choices for her scene. Her only request was for her hijab to cover her chest, if possible. I could do some creative stuff with the head wrap but she preferred not to have a head wrap that twirls on the head. I created her color palette to be colorful but not too much so, in order to show the youthfulness in her soul. She’s not concerned with fashion. Patterns were not vital but rather color blocking for the scenes that communicate she’s happy and dull color in the scenes where she’s been bullied by the ‘mean girls’. Her hijab (veil) is not very stylish, always conventionally made.”
For the rich and spoiled leader of the mean girl’s gang, Salshabilla Adriani (as Bianca), Gratannia created a look that included an expensive branded backpack, stylish uniforms, and fashionable outfits. Icha (Rosiana Dewi) has a girly/attractive look that emphasizes floral prints, baby blues, and pinks even within the context of her hijab. Ana (Syifa Hadju) sports a tomboy vibe with hoodies, flannel shirts, and denim while Linda (Meny A. Nori)’s look is full of line patterns and color blocking. Panjaitin relates, “2013 was the year in Indonesia when Hijab became trendy. Nowadays many people have brought a sense of style and fashion to this traditionally conservative garb. It’s okay to be religious and still be fashionable. The hijab is about privacy and modesty but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Around eighty-seven percent of the Indonesian population is Muslim. This show basically inspires young Muslim girls to not be afraid to wear the hijab. They can be modest and still express personality in doing so. Being a part of this idea was both fun and meaningful for me.”
