Showing Wastra's Work, 7 Indonesian Designers Ready To Travel At Front Row Paris 2025

Trunk show the designers showed off the archipelago wastra for Front Row Paris 2025. (Dinno/VOI)

JAKARTA - Paris is again preparing to witness the creative steps of Indonesian fashion designers. At FrontRow Paris 2025 which will be held at Les Salons Hoche, seven Indonesian designers will present their best works, combining the wealth of the archipelago wastra with a modern touch to captivate the eyes of the world.

This event is not just a fashion show, because it has long been a cultural diplomacy stage that carries weaving, batik, embroidery, and Indonesian textile creations across the continent.

Entering its sixth year, FrontRow Paris is designed to maintain the authenticity of local design identities, without having to comply with the western fashion format that often changes the DNA of local brands.

"If we participate in other international events, our work is often changed to make it more western. Even modest fashion is sometimes not allowed to wear a hijab. In FrontROW, we actually want to maintain the original character of wastra and Indonesian modest," said Ali Charisma, Founder of Front Row, at a press conference in Jakarta, recently.

This year, the concept of the event will be even more inclusive by presenting parades in Paris public spaces, from the city center to metro stations. This strategy is expected to be able to reach wider audiences, not only buyers, but also tourists and local residents.

"We want that awareness to grow organically, from the streets of Paris to boutiques and showrooms," Ali added.

In addition to demonstrations at the main venue in September 2025, buyers from retail, department stores, to influencers with great influence will be selectively invited. This aims to create more focused communication and sustainable cooperation opportunities.

"We deliberately sort out the invitation so that the interaction between designers and buyers is more intensive. This year there will even be an e-catalog before leaving," he explained.

The seven designers who will appear are:

NY by Novita Yunus with 11 collections of luric weaving, silk, and embroidery combined with jewelry and woven bags of sheep skin from collaboration with Batik Chic.

Roemah Kebaya Vielga with 10 collections themed Petal of Legacy, combines a Nusantara flower embroidery with Piyo Jewelry jewelry.

Rumah Batik Fractal-LPS yang menghadirkan 10 look bertemu hutan tropis Parahyangan hasil kolaborasi 30 UMKM Sukabumi.

AM by Anggiasari Mawardi who used the rest of the deadstock cloth combined with Cirebon batik with linen and bamboo ingredients.

Putri Anjani by Indina with the Simple but Fashion collection, lifts airy silk from distance leaves and batik bags.

FFF by Ferry Febby Fabry with Wastra Donggala, Central Sulawesi.

Deden Siswanto, who presents a collection of all-black ready-to-wear unisex weaving.

"We believe that the combination of diverse styles and materials, Front Row Paris 2025 is proof that the Indonesian fashion industry not only has a distinctive color, but is also able to compete on the global stage without losing its identity," concluded Ali Charisma.