Italy Aims to Collaborate on Fashion and Leather Industries with Indonesia through IFW 2026

JAKARTA - The BTN Indonesia Fashion Week (IFW) 2026 is not only a stage for designers to showcase their best works, but also a space for the birth of international cooperation opportunities.

One of them is through a meeting between the Italian fashion and leather industry delegation with Indonesian industry players and government to strengthen partnerships in the fashion, leather, and footwear sectors.

The collaboration was initiated by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) Jakarta Trade Office together with ASSOMAC, Assocalzaturifici, and SACE. This meeting also involved the Indonesian Fashion Entrepreneur Designer Association (APPMI), the Indonesian Association of Cooperatives (APRISINDO), as well as representatives from the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs.

Before attending the IFW 2026 series, the Italian delegation first visited the leather tanning center in Garut, West Java. The visit was part of an effort to explore the potential for the development of an industrial leather area that is integrated with the fashion, tourism, and culture sectors.

ASSOMAC Director General, Agostino Apolito, assessed that Garut has a great opportunity to become a model for the development of leather industrial areas that are able to connect local potential with global industry standards.

According to him, the momentum of the completion of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EU-Indonesia CEPA) negotiations also opens new opportunities for both countries to expand cooperation.

"Garut has the potential to become a territorial laboratory for the Italian-Indonesian industrial partnership as a fashion and leather district that combines the opportunities of CEPA, high growth ambitions, international standards, and local identity. This is not just a transfer of machinery, but building an entire industrial ecosystem, from technology, skills, institutions, to investment," said Agostino Apolito, General Director of ASSOMAC.

In addition to discussing industry strengthening, the Italian delegation also introduced the latest developments in the world footwear sector. Head of Global Trade Assocalzaturifici and representative of MICAM Milano, Matteo Scarparo, explained the global shoe industry trends and the latest campaign entitled Shoes First, which places shoes as part of identity and culture, not just a complement to fashion.

On that occasion, he also conveyed that Italy was proposing The Art of Italian Footwear as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

"Shoes are no longer just the last item a person wears, but the first thing others remember. Change the shoes, change the story. That's the spirit we want to bring in every dialogue with new partners, including Indonesia," said Matteo Scarparo, Head of Global Trade, Assocalzaturifici / MICAM Milano.

In terms of trade, SACE sees Indonesia as one of the markets that continues to grow for Italian industrial products and technology. Italian exports to Indonesia in 2025 were recorded at 2.25 billion euros, with contributions from the manufacturing machinery, textile, and leather industries.

Relationship Manager Southeast Asia & Oceania SACE, Cristina Colussi, said the growth showed the size of the national industry's need for quality technology and materials.

"Indonesia is one of the most dynamic growth markets in Southeast Asia for Italian exports. The textile, leather, and footwear manufacturing base here creates a real demand for technology and materials from Italy, and this local priority is in line with Italy's excellence in machinery, materials, and industrial knowledge," said Cristina Colussi, Relationship Manager Southeast Asia & Oceania, SACE.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the APRISINDO West Java Regional Leadership Council, Henny Setiadi, assessed that collaboration with Italy can accelerate the improvement of the competitiveness of the national footwear and leather industry, both in terms of product quality and access to international markets.

"Collaboration with Italian partners opens up opportunities for Indonesian footwear and leather industry players to upgrade both in terms of technology, quality standards, and global market access. Indonesia's cultural wealth and natural diversity are great assets that we can combine with Italian technology and networking advantages," said Henny Setiadi, Chairman of the West Java DPW APRISINDO.

The series of meetings also followed up on efforts to build long-term cooperation through business matchmaking, technology transfer, and investment opportunities in the leather and footwear sector.

This collaboration is expected to strengthen Indonesia's position in the global fashion industry supply chain while paving the way for national business players to expand the market to an international level.