Inspired by Nias Stone Jump, Rizki Ramadityo's Fashion Design Wins IYFDC 2026

JAKARTA - Indonesian cultural wealth continues to be a source of inspiration for the birth of fashion works from the younger generation. This is reflected in the Indonesia Young Fashion Designers Competition (IYFDC) 2026 which reached its peak on the fourth day of BTN Indonesia Fashion Week (IFW) 2026, Saturday, August 1, 2026.

This competition is a stage for young designers to translate the cultural heritage of the archipelago into ready-to-wear fashion that is relevant to the current development of the fashion industry.

The enthusiasm of the younger generation towards the fashion world can be seen from the high number of participants. A total of 270 design sketches entered the early stage of the competition, showing the enthusiasm of young designers to present works that are not only visually appealing, but also have a strong cultural identity.

Through a rigorous selection process, the jury board selected 50 semifinalists to develop their sketches into ready-to-wear fashion. The assessment was based on four main aspects, namely the beauty of the design, the smoothness of the workmanship, the wearability, and the commercial potential.

After going through a comprehensive curation process, 12 best finalists were selected who had the opportunity to showcase their collections on the BTN Indonesia Fashion Week 2026 runway.

The atmosphere of the announcement of the winners was festive. Before entering the tense moment for the finalists, the Plenary Hall was entertained by the appearance of the girl group Papilon which performed three songs, namely Push the Button, Song From My Heart, and Sinaran.

The five jury boards consisting of Musa Widyatmodjo, Naniek Rachmat, Misan Kopaka, Dana Duriyatna, and Ariy Arka then appointed Rizki Ramadityo Wicaksono as the First Champion, David Bryan Adam as the Second Champion, Giselle Tiomaulana as the Third Champion, and Syahrusfarabi as the Favorite Champion.

Rizki Ramadityo Wicaksono's work is one example of how Indonesian culture can be processed into design inspiration that is full of meaning.

His collection is inspired by the tradition of stone jumping in Nias, then developed into a personal reflection on the journey of life and inner struggle at the age of 31. The combination of cultural values and personal experiences is the main strength in his collection.

"The meaning of this achievement for me is like a turning point to start over to focus on the world of fashion designers," said Rizki Ramadityo Wicaksono.

In second place, David Bryan Adam proved that a different professional background is not a barrier to working in the fashion industry. The former architect managed to show his creative ability in designing clothes to win an award at IYFDC 2026.

"Praise God, it seems like this is God's way for me to become a designer, because my background is actually an architect. This achievement is very meaningful for me," said David Bryan.

Meanwhile, Giselle Tiomaulana, who is still a student at LaSalle College, considers this event an important experience in her career journey. The first opportunity to perform on the Indonesian Fashion Week stage while presenting a collection is an unforgettable achievement.

"This has been a very valuable experience for me for three years of studying fashion, finally being able to runway at the Indonesian Fashion Week and being able to have the opportunity to create a collection," said Giselle.

The same was conveyed by Syahrusfarabi who was crowned the Favorite Champion. For him, the opportunity to participate in the IYFDC and showcase his work at BTN Indonesia Fashion Week became a motivation to continue to develop as a young Indonesian designer.

"I am proud of this achievement and continue to want to work in the world of fashion design," said Syahrusfarabi.

Through IYFDC 2026, the creativity of young designers is not only seen from the ability to create aesthetically pleasing fashion, but also from their courage to explore the richness of Indonesian culture as a source of inspiration. Various stories, traditions, to local identity are translated into works that have artistic value as well as opportunities to develop in the national and global fashion industry.