Edward Hutabarat is a leading Indonesian designer who has long been impassioned to preserve Indonesian heritage and culture. While many designers work with local textiles, Hutabarat pays special attention to building relationships with the local craftspeople, to learn from them directly and keep the indigenous knowledge alive. He also hopes to spark dialogue and engage with others looking to maintain these traditional practices.

Hutabarat started working with Indonesian textiles in the early ’80s, when few people paid attention to kebaya or the classic women's long-sleeved dress in Indonesia. In 2002, Hutabarat was entrusted to dress Princess Mangkubumi, daughter of Sultan Hamengkubuwono X of Yogyakarta, at her wedding. Here, he saw the importance of the kebaya and its role within a ceremony.

Hutabarat’s knowledge of local textiles is vast, and his respect for its meaning remains deep. For his efforts, he has been awarded for his dedication to preserving the country's cultural heritage by The Apurva Kempinski Bali.