Indonesia Fashion Week 2026 Spotlights North Sumatra’s Ulos

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Fashion Designers and Entrepreneurs Association (APPMI) has officially unveiled Ulos Simetria as the definitive theme for the highly anticipated BTN Indonesia Fashion Week (IFW) 2026, positioning North Sumatra’s iconic traditional woven fabric (wastra) at the absolute center of the global style conversation.

The curated theme marks a calculated, prestigious design shift that attempts to blend the mathematical geometric precision of traditional ulos motifs with ultra-modern, symmetrical high-fashion silhouettes. By securing North Sumatra as the official co-hosting provincial partner, the 14th edition of the country's largest fashion week aims to aggressively elevate regional micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and regional cultural tourism onto high-profile international runways.

"Through the Ulos Simetria theme, we want to show that Indonesia's cultural heritage has great potential to continue to develop through innovation and become part of the global fashion conversation," APPMI General Chairperson and IFW President Poppy Dharsono said during a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday evening, June 30, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Poppy emphasized that over its fourteen-year run, IFW has consistently focused on building a resilient, cross-sector fashion ecosystem. By challenging contemporary designers to dissect, manipulate, and reimagine the rich textures and structural symbolism of ulos, the event aims to prove that sacred ancestral fabrics can successfully cross over into highly commercial, modern global ready-to-wear markets.

The strategic partnership with the North Sumatran administration is viewed as a major economic springboard for the province's creative actors. The collaborative platform will look to expose regional weavers, artisans, and independent boutique owners directly to macro-retail buyers, global distributors, and mainstream media houses.

"Through the Ulos Simetria theme, North Sumatra not only showcases ulos as a cultural product, but also presents a narrative about identity, creativity, and cultural transformation that is relevant to current industrial developments," said Head of the Tourism Marketing Division at the North Sumatra Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy Agency, Dedi Arian Rizki Siregar.

Dedi noted that the Ulos Simetria showcase will communicate a deep narrative of cultural evolution, signaling that North Sumatra is highly receptive to bold design innovations and cross-industry alliances.

"We hope this participation will strengthen North Sumatra's image as a region rich in culture and open to innovation and collaboration," he added.

Scheduled to anchor the national creative calendar, BTN Indonesia Fashion Week 2026 is slated to gather hundreds of cutting-edge fashion designers, brand exhibitors, and grassroots textile cooperatives.

Beyond the high-energy runway showcases, the multi-day industry convention will feature international trade exhibitions, high-level business matchmaking forums, talk shows, and collaborative policy workshops designed to unite government regulators, global trade partners, and independent creative communities under a single commercial ecosystem. ***