JAKARTA | INDATANEWS.COM - Chairwoman of the Deli Serdang Regency Dekranasda (Regional Council for Handicrafts and Creative Economy), Jelita Asri Ludin Tambunan, along with Deputy Chairwoman of Dekranasda Deli Serdang, Asniar Lom Lom Suwondo, attended the BTN Indonesia Fashion Week (IFW) 2026 at the Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC), Jakarta, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.
At the national fashion event, a designer from
Deli Serdang presented a collection titled
HALIME, representing the Dekranasda of North Sumatra Province. The showcase demonstrated that the potential of the region's creative economy is capable of competing within the national fashion industry and gaining recognition on a prestigious platform.
Jelita Asri Ludin Tambunan appreciated the opportunity given to the Deli Serdang designer to showcase the best work at the renowned event. She said the participation could serve as additional motivation for creative economy players in the region to continue developing innovations.
"We are proud that a designer from
Deli Serdang is able to present their work at Indonesia Fashion Week. Hopefully, this will inspire creative economy players to continue creating and highlighting the potential of the region," Jelita said.
Ulos Simetria Blends Cultural Heritage With Modern Fashion
The BTN
Indonesia Fashion Week 2026 is being held from July 29 to August 3, 2026, carrying the theme "Ulos Simetria." This year, North Sumatra Province was entrusted as the main representative of the theme, highlighting Ulos fabric as an important source of inspiration for Indonesia's fashion industry.
The theme "Ulos Simetria" carries a profound meaning, portraying Ulos as a symbol of warmth, balance, harmony, and unity. The concept also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between cultural heritage, creativity, innovation, and the competitiveness of Indonesia's fashion industry on the global stage.
Chairwoman of the Indonesian Association of Fashion Entrepreneurs and Designers (APPMI) and President of Indonesia Fashion Week, Poppy Darsono, said the theme serves as a collective momentum to preserve cultural values while encouraging the growth of the creative economy.
"Ulos is not merely a traditional textile from North Sumatra, but also a symbol of warmth, balance, harmony, and unity. Through this theme, we want to show that Indonesia's fashion industry must continue to maintain a balance between tradition and innovation, as well as between local wisdom and global competition," Poppy said.
According to her, Ulos carries strong cultural values and can become a source of inspiration for fashion industry players to create works with local identity and international appeal.
PRESERVING THE BALANCE BETWEEN CULTURE AND INNOVATION: Chairwoman of APPMI and President of Indonesia Fashion Week, Poppy Darsono, explains the significance of the "Ulos Simetria" theme as a reflection of balance between cultural heritage and innovation in Indonesia's fashion industry. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
Kahiyang Encourages Greater Recognition of Ulos Among Young Generation
Chairwoman of the North Sumatra Dekranasda, Kahiyang Ayu Bobby Nasution, expressed hope that Ulos would receive greater recognition both domestically and internationally. She also encouraged designers to further explore Ulos as part of modern creative works.
"We hope Ulos will become more widely known globally and play a greater role not only in fashion but also in the tourism sector. Ulos should also become closer to Generation Z. I hope designers will pay more attention to Ulos because this Batak cultural heritage has extraordinary richness," Kahiyang said.
Kahiyang emphasized that the development of Ulos would not only strengthen the fashion industry but also support tourism and introduce the cultural wealth of North Sumatra to younger generations.
Through the BTN
Indonesia Fashion Week 2026, Ulos receives a platform to showcase Batak cultural diversity while opening opportunities for designers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to develop creative products with economic value.
DEVELOPING ULOS AS CULTURAL HERITAGE: Chairwoman of the North Sumatra Dekranasda, Kahiyang Ayu Bobby Nasution, encourages designers to develop Ulos as cultural heritage so it can gain global recognition and appeal to the younger generation. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
IFW 2026 Strengthens Indonesia's Creative Economy
The BTN Indonesia Fashion Week 2026 brings together hundreds of designers, local brands, fashion houses, MSMEs, and artisans from various regions across Indonesia.
In addition to fashion shows, the event also features trade exhibitions, creative forums, talk shows, entertainment programs, and culinary festivals. These activities are part of efforts to strengthen Indonesia's creative economy ecosystem so it can continue to grow and remain competitive in the global market.
The participation of the Deli Serdang designer with the HALIME collection at Indonesia Fashion Week 2026 represents a strategic step in promoting regional potential through the creative economy sector. The presentation of this work also demonstrates that local creativity has significant opportunities to develop further within the national and international fashion industries. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Edi Saputra | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala