Melirik Peluang Sepatu Lokal Tampil Di Panggung Dunia Lewat Kolaborasi Mode Indonesia Dan Italia

JAKARTA - The footwear industry, aka Indonesian shoes, has great potential that has not been fully exploited. As a shoe manufacturer that is quite well known, Indonesia not only has production power, but also holds many young talents in the field of product design and innovation.

The growing interest in quality local products and consumer awareness of the value of sustainability are great opportunities for national footwear industry players to penetrate the international market through collaboration, knowledge exchange, and global networks.

In order to strengthen this connection, two international trade exhibitions from Italy, MICAM Milano (lates) and MIPEL (skin goods and fashion accessories), were also present at a joint activity in Jakarta. This initiative aims to open dialogue and collaboration between the Indonesian and Italian fashion industries through a teaser event in the 2025 BTN Indonesia Fashion Week series.

This event was opened by the Italian Ambassador to Indonesia, HE Roberto Colamine, accompanied by Italian Trade Commissioner Dr. Paolo Pinto and Chairman of Indonesia Fashion Week, Poppy Dharsono. This forum is a place to share insights and explore opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships in the footwear and leather goods sector.

MIPEL representatives explained the trends and profiles of their exhibitions in front of participants from various sectors such as retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, and education.

This presentation was also completed by representatives from the well-known footwear design school in Milan, Arsutoria, who announced a scholarship program for Indonesian students who are interested in exploring footwear designs in Italy.

According to HE Roberto Colamine, this collaboration is a strategic step to better understand Indonesia's fast-growing market potential, as well as strengthen connections with local young designers and producers through education and international cooperation. The final goal is to expand the reach of Indonesian brands to global exhibitions such as MICAM.

"The focus is on developing a strong Indonesian national identity in fashion design, as well as creating mutually beneficial partnerships between Italian companies and Indonesian brands," said Colamine.

Meanwhile, the President of MICAM, Giovanni Ceolini, emphasized the importance of platforms such as MICAM as a meeting space between design creativity and international production power. He assessed that Indonesia has a significant growth opportunity, especially with the presence of young creative generations who are able to compete in the global market.

The MICAM Academy project is a bridge for education and culture, opening up opportunities for two Indonesian students to take part in in-depth training for 10 weeks at Milan. This program is not only a form of capacity development, but also a means to strengthen relations between the two countries through exchanging ideas and skills.

"We play a fundamental role as a platform for the comparison between production and distribution of the world in the footwear sector, between the creative industry and the ability to translate aesthetic ideas into finished products, then support the entry of the best footwear collection in the international market," said Giovanna Ceolini as President of MICAM.

MIPEL president Claudia Sequi said that the synergy between international exhibitions and local fashion events such as Indonesia Fashion Week is very important in creating ecosystems that support brand growth from various parts of the world. His long-term vision is to build relationships that are not only mutually beneficial, but also culturally and creatively sustainable.

The presence of MICAM and MIPEL in Jakarta shows that the Southeast Asian market, especially Indonesia, is increasingly recognized as a strategic partner in the global fashion industry. In a broader context, this activity marks Italy's efforts to expand collaboration with countries in the Asia-Pacific region through an inclusive and joint innovation-oriented approach.

Closing the series of events, the Director of the Italian Trade Agency in Jakarta, Paolo Pinto, said that this visit coincided with the commemoration of Italian Product Day, as part of a global promotional strategy that unites economic and cultural diplomacy.

MICAM and MIPEL are expected to be common ground between industry players from two countries to learn each other, grow, and contribute to shaping the future fashion industry landscape.