Kleting

Kleting Titis Wigati (born 16 November 1981) is an Indonesian fashion designer, entrepreneur, and environmental activist. She is the founder and Creative Director of the ready-to-wear fashion label KLÉ (stylized as KLE or KLÉ). Known for her brave and sharp designs intended for non-conformist individuals who crave self-expression through their personal style, Kleting has been a prominent figure in the Indonesian fashion industry since her debut at Jakarta Fashion Week in 2009.

Early life and education Kleting Titis Wigati was born on 16 November 1981 in Jakarta, Indonesia. She grew up in a family deeply committed to environmental conservation. Her family built an urban forest in South Tangerang for water absorption, a concern they have maintained since the 1960s. She then pursued further education at the prestigious Istituto Marangoni Milano School of Fashion, graduating with a degree in Fashion Design in 2005. The same year, she won the Cleo "Young and Talented Designer" Fashion Award. The collection showcased vivid colors including red, purple, green, blue, and yellow, paired with softer tones like white, gray, and beige, and featured high-waist pants, loose dresses, and pleated skirts with ethnic accessories. The collection was inspired by the effects of World War II, including economic expansion and postwar recovery difficulties, and was dominated by dark and shadowy graphics, black, grey, and white colors, with narrow high-waist designs, fabric layering, and flowy feminine dresses. The collection featured ready-to-wear pieces including blouses, blazers, high-waisted pants, shorts, and straight skirts in dark and warm colors, as well as brighter hues like light blue and white with dynamic stripes. She also launched a new homeware line, KLE Casa, inspired by her own family's love for hosting and entertaining, featuring tableware and furniture with hand-drawn fruit and flower motifs.

Return to Jakarta Fashion Week 2026 Kleting made her official comeback to the runway at Jakarta Fashion Week 2026 after a four-year absence. The event was especially personal for her, as she described her career as having been "born" on the JFW stage.

She was one of nine inspirational female designers featured in the "Revival of Miracles" fashion presentation by POND'S Age Miracle, alongside Asti Surya, Velda Anabela, Rebecca Billina, Juliana Ng, Ansy Savitri, Vivian Mazuki, Ingrid Husodo, and Fitria Vidyawati. The event celebrated the revival of these designers after challenging periods.

Kleting reflected on her journey, stating that staying in the Indonesian fashion industry for over 10 years has been a struggle, but she has maintained her passion and idealism. She emphasized the importance of consistency and creativity, noting that she seeks inspiration not only from fashion books but also from political issues and current trends.

Environmental activism Kleting has been actively involved in environmental conservation since childhood, a value instilled by her family. She has been a scuba diver since age 12 and regularly dives to appreciate marine life.

WWF collaboration In 2016, Kleting collaborated with WWF Indonesia and Galeries Lafayette on the "#TogetherPossible for a Living Planet" campaign. She designed ocean-themed merchandise, including scarves, tote bags, and t-shirts, with a portion of proceeds donated to WWF-Indonesia's marine conservation programs.

During the campaign, she also shared stories about the underwater world with children through storytelling activities, with her niece and friends (aged 12-13) serving as volunteers because of their own diving experience. She explained, "If I tell the story (about loving nature from an early age), it's really past tense. But if they tell the story, it will hit home. Children are like sponges, they absorb information quickly."

Tanah Tingal Nature School Kleting's extended family built the Tanah Tingal Nature School (Tanah Tingal School) in the South Tangerang area, aimed at children from Playgroup to Grade 6. The school teaches children to respect the earth, plant trees, preserve water, and introduces them to various animal species, including birds that no longer exist in the city.

Sustainable fashion advocacy Kleting has also spoken about sustainable fashion practices. At a WWF #NatureXYouth event, she stated that every time one produces a garment, it requires one gallon of clean water, highlighting the environmental impact of the textile industry. She also noted that her profession involves "scavenging" used fabrics from textile warehouses and redesigning them to be fit for use.

Awards and recognition 2001: ESMOD Award for pattern making and design interpretation 2008: Cleo "Young and Talented Designer" Fashion Award 2008: One of the 30 Most Inspiring People Under 30 by Hard Rock FM radio Jakarta 2009: Winner of CLEO Fashion Awards, Talented Young Designer category, at JFW 2010 Best Fashion Designer at Clio Fashion Awards (year unspecified) 2012-2019: Regular participant at Jakarta Fashion Week

Personal life Kleting is married to Waizly Darwin and they have two children: twins Renjana and Atmahati. She gave birth to them in 2021 at the age of 40.

She has been a certified scuba diver since the age of 12. Her family has been involved in environmental conservation since the 1960s, having built an urban forest in South Tangerang.