When you watch your favorite Indonesian musicians perform and find yourself captivated not just by their music but also by their outfits, you should know that Ben Sihombing is most likely the person behind the look. In a collaboration with .Feast, Pable visited Ben to sit down and discuss his creative process.
Ben Sihombing has been immersed in music since his youth, following in his family’s footsteps. After releasing a few songs, he ventured into the fashion world as a stylist for renowned Indonesian musicians. Early in his styling career, he curated looks for artists such as Petra Sihombing, Sal Priadi, and Rendy Pandugo. In 2022, following the release of his album “Nostaldia”, Ben fell in love with the world of styling and decided to fully commit to that career path.
Ben describes his relationship with fashion as unique. He recalls his earliest memories of fashion —specifically, being just ten years old and eagerly awaiting his once-a-year allowance for new shoes. Young Ben would carefully consider which pair to choose; once he got them, he would place them right next to his pillow every night, often unable to sleep from sheer excitement. It is this love for fashion that drives Ben to pursue this field today.
Nowadays, Ben’s days are incredibly exciting. The nature of his job requires him to wear three hats simultaneously: consultant, designer, and stylist. One day, he might be sitting in a meeting with some of the country’s most influential musicians, discussing wardrobe concepts and ideas. The next one, he is driving around town, scouting the best vendors to bring his designs to life. This is what he loves —the feeling that no two projects are ever alike. Based in Jakarta, Ben is deeply grateful to have created outfits for legendary Indonesian musicians such as Rizky Febian, Maliq & D’Essentials, Ali, Hindia, Iwan Fals, For Revenge, Danilla Riyadi, and many others.
When working on the wardrobe for .Feast with our Dobby Black, Ben adhered to a core principle: whatever he created had to reflect the essence of both parties. He incorporated the values held by both sides —Pable’s commitment to sustainability and timelessness, and .Feast’s signature boldness— without sacrificing the creative freedom to showcase his own unique style as a stylist. Ben drew inspiration from the bold, uniform-like, and vintage aesthetics of 80s fashion, which he felt perfectly matched .Feast’s personality as a band. Naturally, he also took into account factors such as .Feast’s album concept—”Membangun dan Menghancurkan”—their stage acts, and the personal styles of each band member. Furthermore, he believed that our Dobby Black fabric would serve as the ideal material for its uniqueness and timelessness. To honor our commitment to sustainability, Ben minimized the use of virgin materials by opting for elements like secondhand buttons. Throughout the creative process, Ben frequently expressed his admiration for both Pable and the Dobby Black material.
Photo by Martinus Ragita.
