Feature Designer - Cocomomo

Have you ever heard of Ayang Cempaka ?
well, she's the talented girl behind Cocomomo designs.



She does custom handmade designs :
tote bags, passport wallets, diaper bags, laptop case, notebook backpacks, handbags, purse, lunch tote, brush roll make up case, backpack, messenger bag, and well, bras. :)

Woww right ?

She has her own blog where you can see most of her designs process, she also has an etsy shop, so you and you and you from overseas have the chance to own her designs.
And she's from Yogyakarta, Indonesia... yup dat's right :) so proud of her.



She doesn't just design a bag, she also pays attention to details, Just look at the photos, she chooses the inside lining of the bag to match the outer design, plus she's got tags. and She also models for her designs.
How Cocomomo was created ? Well, Ayang Cempaka is an Architect graduate, was bored working 8 to 4 everyday, resigned and was jobless, didn't know what to do and what her purpose in life was.
But she kept her recurring dream alive, that is to have her own studio and to do business at home where she can raise her future lovely children.
So... in order to transform her dream into reality.
She started from scracth, with near zero knowledge in sewing and computer graphic , not too much support from her family since she's supposed to be an architect not a "textile worker", omitted lazy from her vocabulary and with capital of merely Rp. 800.000,- She's now living her dream in the making.
And a year after, Cocomomo's getting more opportunities, business offers, and even opening up a shop !!
Here's SanggarSeni.com's interview with Ayang Cempaka :

Hi Ayang :)
Usually designers stay up late and work at night doing projects, how about you ? :) Can you share what's your typical day's like ?
I usually sleep after 11 pm, doing sketches/designs and sewing ! haha.... because I don't have a fixed schedule, I'm free to sleep whenever. But I never wake up later than 5.30 am (yes I'm an AM person), and I like to work early. Maybe that's a habit in my family.... and because the person who sews for me is still a freelancer, I usually go out to check the work before 7 am. Material hunting is usually done around 8-9 am, coz the shops aren't located near, then I start working for as long as I need to.



What kinds of software do you use ?
How's the design process like ?
I usually use coreldraw to design. I'm not an expert at all, Honestly! I don't even know how to use Photoshop nor Coreldraw well. I'm an Architect major, so I'm more of an Autocad girl. When I first started, I was so lost using Coreldraw, so I used Autocad to design the shape of the bags ;)) And before that, well, it was all rough sketches on paper :)

How do you handle "all the lil bugs along the way" ?
Well, I've had my designs underestimated, Punctuality is always an issue with the freelancer, and sometimes my designs are considered imposible to made, just because they don't want to try and sew them. Not to mention when one of my design was stolen by my ex-freelancer and I had to cancel production for that particular design.
But hey... without all those obstacles, I guess I'll never learn, right ?

Classic question :

What are your goals and How do you see yourself and your designs in the future ? :)
I've always wanted to work at home and to have my own studio.
I love what I do, that's why I always try to give the best for my customers. I choose the best material I can find, I put my soul into my designs, so they can feel the love that I have towards each design process. I made them with love and care.
My goal is to have cocomomo handmade boutique in cities such as Singapore, London, Paris, NewYork, Japan, Milan. hahahaha... it's always wonderful to have a dream !
But in the near future, I'd like Cocomomo designs to be taken seriously by Indonesians. This is an Original Local Product worth appreciated.

What are your advice for those who wants to start creating something, but are somewhat afraid / dunno where to start. :)
It's important to have a dream. Imagine it , then make it come true. It's cliche, but really, nothing's impossible when you have a will and the effort to make it come true ;)

Cocomomo - Ayang Cempaka
http://ayang-cempaka.blogspot.com
Tel. +62 - 858 68 111 984
cempaka1202 [at] yahoo.co.id

(nj / SanggarSeni.com)
Image copyright : Cocomomo