When cultural identity meets fashion, the result can be a collection that speaks not just to style, but to feeling. That’s exactly what Alifa Muthmainnah (Mia) set out to create with her final thesis project, The Odd One Out of Time, a collection celebrating the experience of being a cultural minority within a homogenous society.

The Odd One Out of Time is more than just a series of garments, it’s a personal reflection on identity and the feeling of “otherness” experienced as part of a cultural minority.

“The Odd One Out of Time celebrates the feeling of being a cultural minority and a very homogenous society,” Mia explains, describing the meaning behind her collection’s title.

Mia’s research traces back to a pivotal moment in Indonesian fashion history: the 1913 sartorial revolution. During that period, many Indonesian intellectuals and young people began developing hybrid dress styles that blended traditional Javanese clothing with European tailoring techniques.

This spirit of merging two worlds became the foundation of the collection’s concept, a dialogue between local heritage and outside influence, where the two complement rather than cancel each other out.

One of the most striking explorations in this collection is the reconstruction of the beskap, a traditional Javanese garment, fused with military-inspired silhouettes. She drew from the front shape of the beskap and translated it into a contemporary trench coat cut.

“This trench coat was inspired by the trench coat and the silhouette of the front of the beskap, and a lot of fall front fastenings and froggings from military wear,” Mia shares.

Details like fall-front fastenings and frogging, both hallmarks of military dress, were adapted into the piece, creating garments that feel both familiar and foreign, a fitting embodiment of the “odd one out” theme running through the collection.

The Odd One Out of Time offers a fresh perspective: that being different isn’t something to hide, but something to celebrate. By weaving together the historical thread of 1913 and the visual language of military design, Mia crafts a narrative about identity, acculturation, and the courage to stand out amid sameness.