Indonesia’s Fashion and Craft IKM Eye Global Markets

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia's Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, said Indonesia’s cultural heritage, creativity, and diverse local resources are major strengths for developing the country’s fashion and craft industries. These potentials need to be continuously transformed into innovative products with high added value and competitiveness.

“The fashion and craft industries have great potential to continue growing, supported by Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage, creativity, and diverse local resources. The government continues to drive these potentials so they can be translated into value-added products capable of gaining acceptance in both domestic and international markets,” Minister Agus said in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday, August 13, 2026.

One of the measures taken by the Ministry of Industry is facilitating its assisted small and medium industries (IKM) to participate in national-scale promotional and trade events. According to the Minister, IKM participation in various exhibitions serves not only as a means of promotion and sales, but also as an opportunity to understand market developments, build networks, and explore new partnership opportunities.

“Participation by fashion and craft IKM in exhibitions provides an opportunity to introduce their products, expand business networks, and explore partnerships. Through direct interaction with industry players and consumers, IKM can also gain insights into market needs and trends to support future business development,” Agus said.

As part of these efforts, the Ministry of Industry, through the Fashion and Craft Industry Empowerment Center (BPIFK), participated in BTN Indonesia Fashion Week (IFW) 2026 in collaboration with the Indonesian Association of Fashion Designers and Entrepreneurs (APPMI). Held from July 29 to August 2, 2026, at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), the exhibition provided a strategic platform for assisted IKM to reach consumers, potential buyers, business partners, and industry players.

Entering its 14th year, BTN Indonesia Fashion Week 2026 carried the theme “Wastra Ulos Simetria,” highlighting ulos as one of the distinctive cultural heritages of North Sumatra. The theme represented efforts to preserve cultural heritage through contemporary works and innovations developed by designers and creative industry players, keeping traditional values relevant to developments in the fashion world.

Director General of Small, Medium, and Miscellaneous Industries (IKMA) at the Ministry of Industry, Reni Yanita, said the event demonstrated the significant market potential of Indonesia’s fashion and craft industries.

Over the five-day event, more than 200 designers, 500 fashion brands participating in the exhibition, and around 4,000 creative workers took part. The event featured fashion shows, trade exhibitions, talk shows, creative forums, entertainment performances, and a culinary area, attracting more than 35,000 visitors and generating total transactions of over IDR 10 billion.

“The large number of visitors and the transaction value demonstrate strong market enthusiasm while reinforcing the role of the fashion and craft sectors in Indonesia’s creative economy growth,” Reni said.

At the event, BPIFK facilitated the participation of 11 assisted IKM that were alumni of the Creative Business Incubator (CBI) Program: Pucok from Aceh, Koto Batu from Banten, Marline Indonesia, Arae, Winkle World, and Delta from West Java, Cloth Inc from Jakarta, Eboni Watch and Shalda from Central Java, Ulur Wiji from East Java, and Kominela from Bali.

One of the assisted IKM, Koto Batu, also participated as a speaker in a Creative Workshop titled “Create Your Gemstore Bracelet” on July 30, 2026. The activity provided an opportunity for the IKM to showcase its skills, creativity, and products directly to visitors.

Head of the Fashion and Craft Industry Empowerment Center (BPIFK), Dickie Sulistya Apriliyanto, said facilitating IKM participation in BTN IFW 2026 was part of an effort to give businesses hands-on experience in utilizing exhibitions for promotion, marketing, and business networking.

“During the five-day exhibition, the 11 IKM assisted by BPIFK recorded sales of more than 460 products, with total transactions exceeding IDR 100 million. Beyond direct sales, the participation of BPIFK tenants also generated several potential business-to-business (B2B) partnerships following the exhibition,” Dickie said.

Several business opportunities were explored by the assisted IKM during the exhibition. Arae, for example, explored a partnership with an institution promoting local products in overseas markets as a potential distributor. Marline Indonesia secured opportunities to collaborate with artists and influencers, while also exploring the development of customized accessories and buttons with one of Indonesia’s leading accessory brands.