Teten Reveals Four Steps To Realize Modest Fashion Indonesia Globally

Menkop UKM Teten Masduki (photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (Menkop UKM) Teten Masduki revealed several strategies and careful preparation that must be done if you want Indonesian modest fashion products to go global or enter the global market.

"First, we must prepare a domestic fashion modest industry ecosystem that has not yet led to industrialization," said Coordinating Minister for SMEs, Teten Masduki, at the Jakarta 1st Modest Fashion Month (Mofam) event at Banteng Field, Jakarta, Sunday night, October 13.

Teten said that he had seen modest fashion for a long time as one of Indonesia's domestic advantages. Modest fashion has a strong cultural basis, it also has the potential to become a sustainable industry.

"Because, we are rich in natural fiber sources, some of which we have processed, most of them have not," said the Coordinating Minister for SMEs.

In fact, Teten said that Indonesia also has a large domestic market. "We can look at the big market of Muslim society. We see the potential of our market demand, a very dynamic lifestyle product," said the Coordinating Minister for SMEs.

Second, said Teten, Indonesia must conduct Research and Development which involves designers, to the textile industry. "We must continue to develop raw materials to adjust market changes. This has not been well organized," said the Coordinating Minister for SMEs.

Teten said the third, must prepare everything to support efforts to enter the industrial supply chain. "This must be prepared in advance, we must prepare local brands in order to compete with foreign brands, both at home and abroad," said Minister Teten.

Therefore, Teten reminded, this is not enough to only have great potential, but not yet able to manage and optimize it. "For example, people in the Middle East still use black and white fashion modests. We can change them more colored," said Teten.

Teten said that the fourth, must be able to prepare an effective marketing strategy. "Right now, there are too many fashion shows, so there seems to be no integrated strategy," said the Coordinating Minister for SMEs.

Teten hopes that if you make an event, for example Jakarta Modest Fashion Week, all parties must agree. "Not only small, but you have to target buyers up to B2B. So, we must be able to calculate the market," said the Coordinating Minister for SMEs.

Meanwhile, Acting Deputy for SMEs at the Ministry of Cooperatives, Temmy Satya Permana, added that MOFAM presented 14 potential young designers who displayed their best works with the theme street wear and ready to wear.

The event also featured a showcase of 30 SMEs, a modest fashion support ecosystem, consisting of fashion supporting products such as bags, footwear, accessories, and personal care. In addition, it also provides 20 food trucks for event visitors, which estimate that it will reach 5000 people during the event.

Temmy hopes that through this MOFAM event, Indonesia's branding as the world's Capital of Fashion can echo and be supported by all parties.

On the same occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in collaboration with the Istiqlal Festival between the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, and the Directorate General of Culture of the Ministry of Education and Culture, for the development of the area around the Banteng Field.

Head of the DKI Jakarta Province Trade Industry Office for Small and Medium Enterprises Cooperatives (PPKUKM) Elisabeth Ratu Rante Allo believes that MOFAM can be a forum for introducing various modest fashion products, as well as opening up creative business opportunities ranging from designers to MSME activists to showcase innovation creativity and expand the national and international market.

"I hope that MOFAM can be a driving force for the progress of the fashion industry in Indonesia, produce sustainable aesthetic works, have an impact on the economy, and strengthen Indonesia's image as the world's modest fashion center," said Elisabeth.