BALINESE CORSETS: PROJECT BIJA

Project Bija is a new voice in Balinese corsets and artisanal fashion

Born on the island of Bali and shaped by a synergy of Balinese and British heritage, Project Bija is a slow-fashion, woman-led label creating corsets from traditional Balinese textiles and batik. Bella, the founder, grew up between Bali and the UK. That duality, therefore, defines her work. Moreover, rather than follow the expected path of beachwear or resort fashion that typically shapes Bali’s fashion aesthetic, she instead reimagines ceremonial textiles. The kind worn to temples, weddings, and dance rituals and yet belong on the pages of IRK Magazine. In other words, it’s tradition under tension. Structure with story. Culture without cliché.

Inspiration Behind Bija’s Balinese Corsets

The inspiration behind the name stems from two sources. First, Bija nods to the designer’s name, Bella, and to the symbolic grains of rice placed on the forehead and chest after Hindu prayers. These grains are believed to offer clarity and blessings. Second, the word ‘project’ speaks to the brand’s identity, because, in essence, it started as an ever-evolving work of growth that started as a passion project instead of a business. Project Bija invites us to witness the seamless entanglement of cultural heritage shared with the modern fashion world. These endeavours have given rise to unique Balinese corsets embraced by fashion enthusiasts.

Bali carries rich historical values and a deep relationship with the spiritual realm. a culture profoundly rooted in its connection to the Gods and the divine, and with that comes the fashion of Balinese life. Furthermore, the island’s textiles carry ceremonial purposes that go beyond clothing: from temple attire such as kebaya and kamen to dance costumes worn in Barong and Legong performances. Each textile and batik emerges in distinct colors, motifs, and drawings. Each bearing coded meanings within the Hindu religion. Bija has made it their mission to honor this cultural individuality by reimagining ancestral textiles through corsetry. Here, the beauty of Balinese corsets shines brightly.

Tradition and individuality

In a time where many traditional forms of artisanship risk fading into commercial imitation, Project Bija acts as a guardian of Balinese heritage. Moreover, by working directly with weavers and craftspeople, the brand preserves the motifs, meanings, and textile techniques that generations have carried forward. Ensuring the stories woven into each cloth continue to live, breathe, and evolve. It evolves like a project. As a result of an era where global fast fashion threatens to erase traditional craft, Bella doubles down on preservation.

Handmade by Balinese artisans, each corset becomes an heirloom piece. It is said that they carry an energy that binds to the wearer, holding the movement and aura of the body it adorns. Therefore, these Balinese corsets carry a unique energy and style that wearers say they appreciate.

It’s within this exchange between body and craft that Bija finds its voice. Through her devotion to creating garments that matter when worn, Bella helps women embody a form of womanhood and femininity rooted in tradition. Thus, Bija proves that fashion holds its greatest power when it’s created with intention and purpose.

Exporting Culture Without Flattening It

So, what makes Project Bija different? It is a project that resists flattening Balinese identity into moodboard material. Too often, Southeast Asian design gets treated as decorative. Bija challenges that. Although the label uses traditional textiles, the silhouettes are modern and uncompromising. These aren’t souvenirs, but statements. Each creation, including the admired Balinese corsets, speaks volumes about cultural depth and modernity.

Furthermore, Bija’s refusal to dilute cultural meaning makes it part of a broader movement that inspires us all. One where fashion doesn’t just borrow from the past. Instead, it builds on it, where exporting culture doesn’t mean simplifying it.

No longer a side note in resortwear, Bija is showing how the island of Bali is becoming a place where real design conversation is happening.

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