BIYAN and James Jean: The Messengers
Craftsmanship meets contemporary visual language
BIYAN x James Jean: The Messengers. Image taken from BIYAN’s Instagram.
Indonesian designer Biyan Wanaatmadja of BIYAN has unveiled a new collaboration with Taiwanese-American artist James Jean. Titled The Messengers, the collection was showcased on 10 April at the opening of BIYAN’s new store at Pacific Place. Produced in limited quantities, it builds on an ongoing dialogue, translating Jean’s visual language into Wanaatmadja’s design framework.
Documentation from James Jean’s research trip to Indonesia. Images taken from BIYAN’s Instagram.
The Messengers draws on elements to Sumba and Bali, shaped in part by Jean’s visits to Indonesia in 2025. “From our first meeting, I was struck by the craftsmanship of Wanaatmadja’s intricately embroidered textiles, where layered patterns meet clean, fluid silhouettes,” Jean says. “Over the past year, Wanaatmadja has been my guide through Indonesia across multiple visits, introducing me to the textiles of Sumba, traditional songket weaving, and Kamasan painting in Bali,” he adds. These references are interpreted in the garments through botanical forms and fragmented prints, suggesting an exchange between memory and imagination.
BIYAN x James Jean: The Messengers. Images taken from BIYAN’s Instagram.
The lineup reflects Wanaatmadja’s approach to relaxed tailoring, spanning short-sleeved bowling shirts, oversized shirts, vests, and elongated shirt jackets. Alongside the core silhouettes, the collection features T-shirts, bags, and beaded charms. Jean, known for his layered and often surreal compositions, contributes imagery distributed across the garments rather than presented as complete prints. Motifs are broken across seams and panels and set against BIYAN’s recurring stripe patterns, creating a tension between the linear structure of stripes and the fluidity of Jean’s artwork. This interplay is complemented by the label’s signature floral embellishment, adding intricacy to the fluid silhouettes.
BIYAN x James Jean: The Messengers. Image taken from BIYAN’s Instagram.
Wanaatmadja’s role remains structurally dominant, with his grounding in couture techniques and Indonesian textile traditions keeping the silhouettes consistent with the house’s identity. That alignment is reflected in their shared use of pattern, layering, and embroidery. “I was surprised by how similar our approaches were to art,” Jean remarks.He described the collaboration as one of the most integrated translations of his work within a different creative field, aligning with his broader artistic practice.
The release of The Messengers coincides with Jean’s solo exhibition Sintila, on view at BAIK ART in Jakarta from 9 April to 16 May 2026, marking his first presentation in the city. Pieces from the collection are available exclusively at BIYAN’s Pacific Place store.