Janet Rine Teowarang
What is your full name?
Janet Rine Teowarang.
What is your first name?
Janet.
Where were you born?
Jakarta, Indonesia.
Where do you currently reside and work?
Surabaya and Jakarta, Indonesia.
What is your educational background?
I first earned an Advanced Diploma of Fashion Design from Raffles Design Institute in Singapore, followed by a Bachelor of Visual Communication Design from Universitas Ciputra Surabaya. I later completed a Master of Product Design from Universitas Trisakti Jakarta.
In addition, I participated in the two-week Short Term Awards (STA) programme on International Business Readiness - A course for the Fashion and Textile Sector in 2017 from Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, with the support of the Australia Awards.
What are other details of experiences, work or otherwise, that have led you to your current work?
I am a fashion designer and the founder of Allegra Jane, established in 2009. Since 2001, I have been a fashion lecturer, first at LaSalle College Jakarta and currently at Universitas Ciputra Surabaya, where I teach the undergraduate Fashion Design and Business programme.
I have contributed as a writer for Her World Indonesia and Harper’s Bazaar Indonesia, and I serve on the editorial board of Garland Magazine. I am also a member of the Union of Concerned Researchers in Fashion, based in the United Kingdom, and a member of Fashion Designers of Latin America (FDLA), based in New York.
How would you describe your practice/business?
As both an academic and a practitioner in the fashion industry, I believe it is important to move forward and stay current. I adopt a reciprocal approach, sharing knowledge with others through lecturing, mentoring, and community service projects as a social entrepreneur. At the same time, I pursue professional development by undertaking relevant workshops and training programmes, and by advancing my education towards a Doctor of Philosophy degree with a focus on sustainability.
What are the highlight projects in your career so far?
I have been a recipient of the Australian Alumni Grant Awards in 2019, 2021, and 2024.
Most recently, I received the Inspiring Movement for Positive and Conscious Transformation (IMPACT) Award 2025 in the Project Category, together with KaIND, a small enterprise reimagining silk through non-violent and regenerative practices that preserve biodiversity and cultural heritage. The award was presented by the Singapore Fashion Council.
What are you currently working on?
I am working on an international grant project that promotes Indonesian Eri silk, a textile innovation that combines Tencel and Eri silk, also known as peace silk, in collaboration with KaIND. Alongside this, I will pursue my Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Technology Sydney this November, with a focus on sustainability in fashion. I am also contributing to the development of the Australia–Indonesia Silk Connect Hub website.
Instagram: @janetteowarang @allegrajanetheofficial
Website: www.janetteowarang.com