TIMES SINGAPORE, JEMBER – At sunrise, gentle mist drifts above the still waters of Ranu Segaran. Light touches the trees, and a long ribbon of bamboo emerges across the lake — a floating runway unlike anywhere else in Indonesia for Seven Lakes Festival.

This November, the festival brings a new kind of spectacle to nature lovers and style enthusiasts alike: a fashion catwalk suspended on water, blending culture, creativity, and the soul of rural East Java.

Where Nature Meets Couture

The 78-metre floating runway takes centre stage as models glide above the rippling lake surface. Instead of bright city lights and grand halls, this runway is framed by mountains, forest, and the calm breath of the countryside.

Here, the drama isn't created by loud beats or neon lights, but by the stillness of water, the whisper of bamboo leaves, and the elegance of garments inspired by local culture and nature.

This event transforms Ranu Segaran from a peaceful village lake into a cinematic setting — part runway, part spiritual reminder of how art can live in harmony with the earth.

At the heart of this festival is authenticity. The runway, built almost entirely from bamboo, is not a luxury construction brought from elsewhere — it is crafted by local hands, sourced from local bamboo collectors, and supported by the community who call these hills home.

Every step a model takes is supported by the spirit of Tiris Village craftsmanship, turning this runway into a symbol of empowerment and pride.

A New Chapter for Eco-Fashion Tourism

With visitors expected from across Indonesia, the festival marks more than an artistic celebration. It introduces a vision for future tourism — where beauty does not erase nature, but rises gently from it.

No massive concrete, no artificial glamor — only bamboo, water, and the promise that small towns can create global-level experiences without losing their soul.

The Seven Lakes Festival is the kind of event where travelers don’t just watch — they breathe, they feel, and they carry the memory home like the scent of the forest at dawn. In a world where destinations compete with skyscrapers and spectacle, Probolinggo is choosing something quieter, yet far more profound: to let nature be the runway, and tradition be the designer. (*)