Five minutes with a friend: Anastasia Setiobudi of Sukkha Citta

Sukkha Citta is an award-winning social enterprise working to change how clothes are made. As a pioneer in regenerative fashion, the farm-to-closet brand creates economic empowerment for women artisans and smallholder farmers in Indonesian villages, while preserving indigenous culture and regenerating our Planet. Known for its timeless and versatile design, SukkhaCitta is pioneering natural innovations that aim to give back more than we take.

As part of our Five minutes with a friend series, we speak to Chief Creative Officer, Anastasia Setiobudi, to learn about the creative journey of Sukkha Citta. 

Image: portrait of Anastasia Setiobudi.

Selvedge: What is your first memory of a textile?

Anastasia Setiobudi: This might not be my earliest memory, but one of my core ones. 

It was of me watching my Mum when she’s putting on one of her silk evening gowns for events. I loved going through her wardrobe, especially her gowns section. I couldn’t reach the whole thing so I would only play with the bottom parts. 

It was quite a sensation–looking at the dancing colourful skirt patterns and playing the soft silk fabric. I would daydream about wearing one of her gowns when I grow up. She keeps some of her gowns and I am yet to go through and finally try them on.

SL: Can you put into words what you love about textiles?
AS: I love the tactile nature of it. There's nothing quite like running your fingers over the smoothness of silk against your skin or the roughness of a linen. The sensory experience that textiles provide is unmatched, and it's something I deeply appreciate.

I'm also fascinated by the technical aspects of textiles. The process of weaving, knitting, or felting fibres together to create a cohesive fabric requires skill and precision. Learning about different weaving patterns, dyeing techniques, and fabric structures is like unlocking a whole new world of possibilities.

SL: Where is your most inspiring space to create?
AS: Recently I’ve been spending more time in one of our villages in Central Java.

When you’re there, you forget about the superficial things you think you need if you live in the city, and can focus on what really matters in life. For me, it’s family, friends, and creating.

I also learned a lot about slowing down and doing things meaningfully from the heart. With city grind, you often want to get things done just because they need to get done ASAP, oftentimes on autopilot.

I also realised, the more I spend my time closely with the artisans, the more I’m sure that the crafts they do must live on. It inspires me in a way to keep innovating and imbuing relevance to the craft. It requires a lot of trial and error to find the balance of course, and being there to experience things directly definitely feels like the right thing to do.

SL: What has inspired you recently? 
AS: I finished Three-Body Problem (the series) in one weekend and it really made me think. Without giving away any spoilers, it fascinates me on how it portrays humanity as a species, when faced with existential challenges, capable of incredible scientific achievements and cooperation, yet also susceptible to division, conflict, and moral ambiguity.

It reminds me of what is actually happening in the world right now, but instead of facing challenges from the outside, we are doing it to ourselves.

I am very much in the process of delving deeper into this idea–human’s existence on earth, and absorbing as many narratives as I can. If you ask me whether I will apply my response into a creation or not, I can’t really say for now.

SL: What is your most cherished textile, and why?
AS: I have a few and it’s actually hard to pick a favourite as each of them are very special. Some which I collected during my travels and some which were passed down to me.

I have some meterage of superfine white Khadi from India. It was one of the finest Khadi I’ve ever encountered, and knowing the history and what Khadi symbolises makes it even more precious. 

Last year, I stumbled upon this handmade cotton lace producer from Japan. I have a piece of their collage lace, thinking of making something special out of it. I haven’t had the courage to cut it though.

I also have some hand-drawn batik sarongs which were initially collected by my Mum. They are as old as myself (or even older) and serve as a benchmark of the level of craftsmanship we could achieve.

SL: Where did you learn your craft?
AS: Wherever I’ve been, I unconsciously gravitated towards handwork. I was that kid in the corner of the room, drawing, painting, or playing with clay for hours. There’s something therapeutic about the painstaking process of creating something by hand. 

Initially, I wanted to do fine arts after high school. However, my parents, being the typical Asian parents, wanted me to go down a safer career path–without compromising too much on my interests. So I focus on fashion instead. Because I believe you can apply arts, crafts, or anything, into fashion. 

I did a fashion design and pattern making diploma at ESMOD Jakarta, a French-based fashion college. During that time, I would help out at my aunt’s wall-hanging craft workshop in the summer. I learn about my family’s history as batik merchants in Pekalongan–a prominent batik town in Central Java, as well as different batik motifs, sewing, quilting, and beading. 



After my diploma, I felt like I needed to know more about how the industry works globally and decided to continue my study at Central Saint Martins. While I was there, I did a gap year working for Marios Schwab, the Greco-Austrian designer. There, I gained a lot of technical knowledge of making a garment and innovative craft which Marios is famous for.

Soon after my graduation, I went back to Indonesia and moved to Bali. Living in Bali really cemented my obsession with the craft world as it was the Balinese way of living. I was there for some years before being introduced to SukkhaCitta and the mission. Now here I am.

Be in a chance to win a Hand-Drawn Batik Tulis by Sukkha Citta and Enter the Selvedge Prize Draw.

Images courtesy of Sukkha Citta

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www.sukkhacitta.com

@sukkhacitta