Valencia Hartono: Where Curiosity Meets Couture
- Paulo Alf
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
By Paulo Alf
In a city where fashion is both a language and a lifestyle, Valencia Hartono speaks it fluently. As a Business and Technology Management student minoring in Mathematics and Computer Science, Valencia is a part of NYU’s prestigious Global Leaders and Scholars in STEM (GLASS) program. Born in Indonesia, raised in Shanghai, and now studying in New York, she carries a global perspective that naturally spills into her style, and into her work building a fashion community abroad.
While studying abroad in Paris, the world’s largest open-air runway, Valencia did what Paris almost demands: she created.
Building a Fashion Community in the Capital of Style
Starting a fashion and beauty club “wasn’t planned at all,” she says. “Every year new people come and go, and they needed someone to run the clubs. I always wanted to join one… so I decided to create my own.” In a city where inspiration is unavoidable, Valencia wanted to carve out a space for students to experience fashion beyond the classroom. “I wanted people to feel the fun of fashion, to explore, to go to shows, to get involved in the nitty-gritty.”
The club quickly became a hub for curated opportunities: free tickets to exhibitions like a Louis Vuitton’s history showcase, with LV-shaped chocolates, visits to underground pop-ups where international designers displayed collections in spaces that felt “half-store, half-club, DJ and all”, conversations with emerging designers about their inspirations, struggles, and artistry, and volunteering opportunities that Valencia passionately describes as “once in a lifetime.”
But one experience changed everything: getting thrown into the chaos of backstage fashion week
Behind The Runway: The Glamour No One Talks About
“I just shot my shot,” she states, describing the emails she sent to production companies. A Paris organization responded, offering only six volunteer spots, and Valencia suddenly found herself in the messiest, most enlightening day of her abroad experience.
She expected polished professionalism. Instead, she worked from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with no food, ironing dresses, checking wristbands, calming angry guests, and even doing tasks security was supposed to handle. “It was incredibly disorganized,” she affirmed. “You had to figure out who actually had decision-making power. It was chaotic, stressful, and honestly, exhausting.”
“When you’re backstage, you see how human everyone is. Models get rejected last minute. Designers are stressed. Clothes are basically class projects, not some untouchable thing.”
Days later, she volunteered at another show, one run professionally, with headsets, scanners, organized systems, and creative direction that actually matched the music. It made her realize how hard event planning truly is. “Everything looks glamorous on the runway, but behind the scenes… it’s work. And it made me appreciate the art so much more.”
Style, Identity, and Growing Up Through Clothes
When asked about her personal style evolution, Valencia lights up: “In high school, I wore streetwear, tank tops, cargo pants, hoodies, chains… very hip-hop.” But college changed her aesthetic completely.
Now she leans toward chic minimalism: neutral tones, simple jewelry, clean lines, elegant silhouettes. "I dress like the person I want to become," she says. "It feels more mature. More put-together."
Even her nails evolved from bold colors to short, minimalist sets. “When you understand style, even a T-shirt isn’t basic, it’s intentional.”
Advice for Students Wanting to Break Into Fashion
Take the LVMH certificate - “It’s free, it’s so helpful, and you learn so much.”
Stay curious about brands - “Every label has a history; find out where things come from.”
Attend fashion network events and pop-ups.
Follow Instagram pages that post internships.
Join fashion clubs.
And above all: LinkedIn.
“Search people. Connect. Look at their portfolios and certifications. That’s how I found the LVMH program.”
If fashion is a global language, Valencia speaks it in all dialects: Parisian chic, Shanghai streetwear, New York edge. And in every city, she’s not just absorbing style, she’s building community around it.
Her journey is proof that fashion isn’t just glamorous. It’s chaotic, human, experimental, and deeply connected to who we want to become.
Paulo Alf (Class of 2029) is a Civil Engineering major, minoring in Urban Design and Architecture. His interest in fashion started early, influenced by his grandmother and mother, who worked in the field, surrounding him with fabrics, machines, and creative processes since a young age. This upbringing shaped how he views design today, his goal is to connect structure, aesthetics, and the way people interact with spaces.
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