Citayam Fashion Week is not a real fashion week, but the hype is real

Fashionistas turning one of Jakarta's main commuter hubs into a makeshift runway have divided opinions. Photo: AFP

A pedestrian crossing turned viral runway has become a site for Jakarta's young fashionistas to express themselves, while attracting the disapproval of police in the traffic-clogged Indonesian capital.

The informal downtown gathering has drawn sartorial adventurists from across the suburbs of the metropolis, including from Citayam, leading it to be dubbed "Citayam Fashion Week". And with their poses and struts all being shared on TikTok and Instagram, some Citayam pioneers have found instant fame, earning modelling jobs, endorsements and an army of adoring fans.