Rafi the Dreamer
Rafi Abdurrahman Ridwan is usually a nine-year old hearing impaired boy via Jakarta that has a vivid imagination along with big dreams for the future. He has already managed to accomplish what many could only ever dream of along with has become Indonesia’s youngest fashion designer.
- Rafi Abdurrahman Ridwan
I first learnt of Rafi at Jakarta Fashion Week 2012 which was held in Jakarta in November 2011. I was inside the photographer’s pit for the duration of the week along with I was loving the garments along with contrasting fabrics of the show by ‘Par’ whom I had never heard of before. When the designer arrived on the scene on the catwalk at the end of the show, I was in awe to see Rafi up on stage, smiling along with waving to all his friends inside the audience along with knowing that will I had just witnessed his beautiful creations. the item was here that will Rafi presented 24 ready-to-wear outfits all of which he had designed in 1 day.
I emailed Rafi to congratulate him along with to send him some of my photos of his show along with he was thrilled to receive my message along with he along with his parents invited me to meet with them at Plaza Indonesia so they could share Rafi’s story with me. As his parents talked, Rafi sat engrossed in his sketch pad drawing a picture of me, filled with amazing details along with colour along with I noticed that will everything in his picture had to match exactly via hair accessories, the bag, fabric along with shoes. There were no rough sketches made, he drew directly in black felt tip pen being careful to make no mistakes along the way. His mother explained that will people have been skeptical believing that will they were involved inside the drawings, although as they explained they have no creative ability along with nor do their two younger children.
Rafi’s mother, Shinta Ayu Handayani, was diagnosed with rubella inside the first trimester of her pregnancy along with her doctor advised her that will her child could be born with health issues along with birth defects. Shinta along with her husband, Mohammad Ridwan, decided to continue with the pregnancy as they believed they didn’t develop the right to choose life or death for another human being along with they believed that will the child God had given them was a blessing.
Rafi was born in July 2002 that has a healthy heart although had no reactions or sensitivity to light until he was three months old along with he remains hearing impaired. He also suffered via respiratory tract infections along with so he has spent much of his life in along with out of hospital along with still endures weekly trips to the hospital to This specific day.
Rafi’s parents enrolled him inside the Santi Rama school for the deaf via the age of 2 along with the item was here that will Rafi began his obsession with drawing fish which he loved to watch inside the aquarium at home. After watching Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”, Rafi became enamoured by Ariel the mermaid princess, although was confused as to why she only wore underwear along with so he began to design garments to cover her upper torso, along with later seeing her as a human on TV, he commenced designing dresses along with full outfits for her to wear.
Around This specific time Rafi asked his mother, “What does sound sound like?” which almost broke Shinta’s heart as she looked for a way to abstractly explain sound to her son. Shinta decided to explain to Rafi that will sound is usually made up of many colours like yellow, pink, blue, etc. along with via that will day onwards Rafi’s pictures became detailed artworks filled with many vibrant colours.
At the age of several, Rafi watched his first fashion show by Indonesian designer, Auguste Soesastro, along with This specific show inspired him to become a fashion designer. After becoming quite ill along with bed ridden, he became obsessed with fashion magazines along with fashion TV to improve his sketches along with he practically dragged his mother to the Jakarta Food along with Festival Fashion Festival after learning the item was being held.
the item was at This specific Festival that will Rafi met with Indonesian designer, Barli Asmara, along with he showed Barli some of his detailed along with colourful sketches. Barli recognised the huge potential infront of him along with invited Rafi along with Shinta to his workshop where they could view some of his own drawings along with creations. Rafi was spellbound at the workshop having never realised that will all garments are first created via sketches along with not just bought ready-made in a shop.
- Rafi drawing Tasha
Rafi incorporates a book titled “Letters to God” where he writes all his dreams along with wishes along with the item was in This specific book that will Barli saw Rafi’s dream to be able to hear along with to hold a fashion show for his 9th birthday. Having the time along with means to assist Rafi with his dream for his own show, Barli worked with him to create a smaller collection which was shown at Canteen in Plaza Indonesia on July 20, 2011. the item was here that will seven of Rafi’s designs were shown on the catwalk, all of which were designed by Rafi including the fabric used for all the garments.
After the show, Lia Candrasari, the founder of the LC Foundation, approached Rafi to congratulate him on his outstanding talents along with suggested he meet with writer along with textile designer Nonita Respati of Purana Batik, along with accessories designer Ariani Prad- jasaputra, who is usually behind the Aarti brand. The three decided to collaborate together along with established Purana-Aarti-Rafi, or PAR, along with they presented their debut collection at Jakarta Fashion Week in November 2011, which received standing ovations.
Not only have Rafi’s fashion dreams become a reality although also through the help of Lia along with the LC Foundation, he received a cochlear implant in his right ear at Singapore General Hospital in August. This specific has enabled Rafi to hear voices along with noises for the very first time in his life, along with through weekly therapy sessions he has been learning to recognise sounds along with is usually beginning to learn to make sound through speaking which is usually a very exciting progress for Rafi. There is usually no sign language for communication within the family, with Shinta having taught Rafi to lip read instead, so slowly he is usually learning to make sounds as he moves his mouth to speak to his parents. If all goes well with This specific first implant he may be able to receive another to his left ear in a few years.
- A letter for Rafi – Tyra Banks
Shinta believes there is usually no rush for Rafi to hold his next fashion show along with he should concentrate on his schooling, although Rafi’s dreams are big along with know no bounds along with he is usually at This specific point keen to show- case his talents on the catwalks in Australia, London, Milan, Paris along with Tokyo, along with he is usually also dreaming to meet his biggest idol, Tyra Banks.
I am incredibly keen to help Rafi show his exceptional talents around the planet in whatever way I can, along with as his father, Mohammad, said, “Most of us are afraid to dream. We’re limited by our own complicated logics along with fears. although Rafi’s a child along with he simply believes in his dreams. along with slowly although surely, his dreams are coming true.”
I wish Rafi every success for the future along with I truly believe that will all his dreams will come true.
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Rafi the Dreamer
Rafi the Dreamer