In between projects and boredom, there is still hope

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, women’s ready-to-wear label Marlan shifted its focus from producing clothes to cotton face masks. Marlan is not the only fashion label to do so.

Fashion brands, including global luxury brands, switch to face masks, protective suits and hand sanitiser. Although the strategy worked in the beginning, it is counterproductive in the long run.

As more brands and designers produce cloth face masks, supply will exceed demand. Cloth face mask doesn’t need to be disposed like surgical mask. With physical distancing measures, people don’t go outside much and therefore, they don’t need to wear cloth face mask all the time.

Phiralia Luanda, founder of children’s wear label Petit Luanda, said. “Cloth face mask is doing well when physical distancing just started. Entering the second month, demand dropped because everyone is making and selling face mask. We don’t need that many face mask.”

Aside from brands and designers, creative professions that require physical attendance like photographer, video producer, stylist, dancer and tattoo artist have to adapt to the coronavirus reality.

Ikmal Awfar, a fashion photographer, postponed shooting schedule. Vira, a video producer, has to wait until it is safe enough to go outside. Christine, a 29-year-old tattoo artist, could not schedule new appointment. She only accepts clients who already made bookings before the physical distancing measure is imposed.

In the earliest projection of the Covid-19 outbreak in Indonesia, the curve was expected to flatten in April. However, the real situation showed otherwise. Cities across Indonesia went on large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in April while the number of positive cases stood at 11,591 as of Monday, 4 May.

Elsewhere, layoffs and bankruptcy are looming. Bad news is inevitable. For writers and content creators, sourcing news for online content could take a toll on their wellbeing, both physically and mentally.

“It becomes a burden because we have to source topic that is trending, and the hottest topic right now is the pandemic. It’s also mentally exhausting when your boss is anxious about the plummeting engagement rate,” said Burhan, a 29-year-old graphic designer.

“We are prone to exhaustion. The current situation is overwhelming,” he continued.

Burhan is not the only one. It is scientifically proven that frequently consuming bad news increases anxiety. The fact that we cannot prepare for what’s coming is an unsettling feeling.

In addition, there is economic burden that weighs on the people. Many creative professions are paid by the project. The temporary halt to normal activity affects their income exponentially, or being laid off in the worst-case scenario.

“Staying sane is my project right now,” said Vira. To replace his postponed schedule, Ikmal stays in contact with his stylist through video calls and chats. “We discuss what to prepare for each shoot. When things are back to normal, we will execute our plan.”

When performances and gatherings are cancelled due to the pandemic, Aya, a 31-year-old dance choreographer, earns her income by selling food and products online.

Everyone has to get used to the new normal until a vaccine is found. Throwing tantrum over bad news on social media will not change the fact that the economy is facing a turbulent time.

But regardless of how bad the situation is, things are actually not as bleak as they seem and there is still hope. Like they say, there are two sides of the coins.

Before the pandemic, founder of pottery brand Made by MY, Margaret Yap, routinely organised pottery workshops. Workshop is the brand’s main source of revenue. Now that everyone spends more time at home cooking and baking, request for custom orders shot up.

“I actually get time to evaluate and develop myself,” said Margaret. “Despite the fact that potters mostly work from their home studio, I have been busy with teaching pottery, doing outside workshops and selling products in bazaars. Thus, preventing me from creating the actual art of pottery.”

A number of start-ups and companies are still hiring. A Google document titled SEAriously awesome list has been compiling list of start-ups that are hiring and people who are looking for jobs.

A job seeker said she received job interview from four companies. Another job seeker told TFR she had been contacted by one of the company on the SEAriously awesome list after posting her credentials.

To make up for delayed new collection, Marlan founder Liliana Tedyanto created Hari Raya hampers that consist of snacks, candle and beauty products. “Everyone wants to come to work, but we cannot buy fabric because of PSBB,” said Liliana. The hampers, in our opinion, are a smart move.

Appreciation towards the creative industry is at an all-time high. Book, video, film, music, game, kitchenware, clothes and social media are the products of the creative industry. Quarantine without those is the real boredom.

Alas, the pandemic causes grief and losses and it should not be monetised for personal gain or be thankful for. There are 252,407 deaths registered worldwide. Those numbers are someone’s parents, children, grandparents, friends and family.

Beyond the grief, we come to realisation that we have taken a lot of things for granted – spending time with friends and family, sitting at a coffee shop with friends, wandering around without feeling anxious and simply breathing in fresh air.