JAKARTA - Four young Indonesian designers have officially departed for Milan, Italy, to participate in a scholarship program at Arsutoria School, a world-renowned shoe and bag design school.
This prestigious program is supported by the Italian Embassy and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), and is in collaboration with Indonesia Fashion Week (IFW), the Indonesian Leather Artisan Cooperative, and Spinindo/Piazza Firenze Garut.
Of the four recipients, two were selected through the IFW/Piazza Firenze Garut industrial pathway, a scheme expected to bring knowledge from Milan back to Indonesia, particularly to elevate the Garut leather cluster.
The four scholarship recipients are Hadisti Mardhiya (LaSalle College Jakarta, BA Fashion Design), Mujib Titian (Footwear Design & Development, Prabu Shoes), Mohammad Jordy Mozza Servia (Graphic Designer, IFW & Piazza Firenze Garut), and Shafwa Kamilia Zahira Azzahra (Fashion Designer, Piazza Firenze Garut).
IFW President and Chair of the Indonesian Leather Artisan Cooperative, Poppy Dharsono, shared her views. She emphasized that this program is a concrete form of international cooperation and a significant investment in the development of the Indonesian leather industry. Poppy also explained the reasons for establishing Piazza Firenze Garut.
"I want Garut to have extraordinary potential. Until now, their production has been monotonous, without clear guidance," she said when met in the Kemang area of Jakarta on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
"Based on my experience, I see Italy as the number one leather industry player, and I happen to have an excellent network there. That's why I built Piazza Firenze so that our friends in Italy can see our commitment," she continued.
From the industry side, Anto Sudaryanto, Director of Spinindo Mitradaya, emphasized the importance of knowledge exchange in this program.
"We don't intend to teach inspiration, because that's impossible. But we can share methodologies, ways to transform ideas into industrial products. This will create a knowledge base that will enable designers, companies, and communities in both countries to collaborate productively," he said.
Echoing this sentiment, Roberto Colaminè, the Italian Ambassador to Indonesia, emphasized that education is the best way to strengthen Indonesia-Italy relations.
"We can't replace tradition with another tradition, but we can share methods. This isn't just about design, but also about building cultural bridges. More than 100,000 Italian tourists come to Indonesia every year, and this relationship must continue to be strengthened, and one way to do this is through education and creative collaboration," Roberto stated.
Budi Santoso, Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia, also saw off the four Indonesians. He emphasized that this opportunity was not only a personal achievement, but also a significant mandate and investment in the nation's future.
"I have three messages for the scholarship recipients. First, be bold in innovating and ready to adapt. Master global knowledge and combine it with local Indonesian wisdom. Second, be the eyes and ears of the nation, observing trends, technology, and opportunities for the domestic industry," added Budi.
"Third, build a strategic network that will pave the way for other Indonesian designers. Go with Indonesia's name, and return to be a source of pride for the nation," he continued.
The departure of these four young designers opens a new chapter for the Indonesian fashion industry. With the knowledge they gained from the Arsutoria School in Milan, they are expected to not only enrich their personal creativity but also bring home experiences that will strengthen the competitiveness of the Indonesian leather and fashion industry.
More than just learning to design shoes or bags, these scholarship recipients have a greater mission: to establish Indonesia, from Garut to the world stage, as a vital part of the global creative industry map.
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