JMFW 2026 Encourages Modest Fashion Indonesia On The Global Stage

Jakarta Modest Fashion Week. (Adelia/VOI)

JAKARTA The 2026 Jakarta Muslim Fashion Week (JMFW) was officially opened at the Kartika Expo Center, Balai Kartini, Jakarta. The event, which took place on November 6' 9 2025, is part of an effort to strengthen Indonesia's position as a world modest fashion reference center.

Minister of Trade Budi Santoso, who is familiarly known as the Minister of Trade Busan, emphasized that the development of modest fashion is a strategic step to build the competitiveness of the national creative economy.

According to the Minister of Trade Busan, JMFW is not just an exhibition or promotional event for Indonesian Muslim fashion products. More than that, this activity is a space for cross-sector collaboration to open global market access for fashion industry players in the country.

He emphasized that this event is expected to strengthen Indonesia's position in the international modest fashion map.

"Through JMFW 2026, the Ministry of Trade together with industry players are trying to strengthen Indonesia's modest fashion ecosystem," said Trade Minister Busan at the opening of the event, when met at Balai Kartini, Jakarta on Thursday, November 6, 2025.

"This initiative is a strategic step to become a forum for cross-sectoral collaboration and bring local fashion designers and products to the global stage while strengthening Indonesia's position in the international arena," he continued.

The Minister of Trade Busan also emphasized that modest fashion does not only talk about fashion trends, but reflects the character, culture, and value of economy that lives in Indonesian society.

The dress style that emphasizes decency and misery can appear modern, creative, and have competitiveness in the global market. This spirit is the spirit of the implementation of JMFW 2026," he said.

Since its introduction in 2021, JMFW has become one of the important platforms in introducing national designers' works to the world stage.

Based on the State of the Global Islamic Economy (SGIE) report, Indonesia's position in the modest fashion industry has increased significantly. From ranked 3rd in the world in 2021, Indonesia managed to rank first in 2025, ahead of Malaysia, Italy, Turkey, and Singapore.

"This achievement is not only based on economic value, but also the result of synergy between the government, fashion industry players, and designers in building the Indonesian fashion modest ecosystem," said the Minister of Trade Busan.

To strengthen fashion modest business actors, the Ministry of Trade runs three main programs, namely Domestic Market Security, Export Market Expansion, and MSMEs Dare to Innovation, Ready to Adapt (BISA) Exports.

The MSME program BISA Export is one of the concrete steps in expanding the market, through a network of 46 trade representatives in 33 countries that brings together MSMEs with foreign buyers through pitching and business matching activities.

During January September 2025, there were 501 business matching activities with 1,013 MSMEs, resulting in transactions of USD 108.82 million. Modest fashion products are recorded as one of the sectors most in demand by international buyers, especially from the UK, South Africa, Mexico, Malaysia, and Singapore.

"So if our products are export standards, they can actually indirectly stem imported products. If we use domestic products, we use products that are already good, then we will not buy foreign products," said the Minister of Trade Busan.

Meanwhile, the Director General of National Export Development, Fajarini Puntodewi, expressed his hope that JMFW 2026 could strengthen collaboration between the government, associations, industry players, designers, academics, and the private sector.

Even though it has only entered the fifth year of implementation, JMFW has a great dream to make Indonesian fashion modes go global and if it can be at the forefront. We hope that JMFW can become a strong naming for local products so that our products can dominate the domestic market and world market. " said Puntodewi.

This year, as many as 242 business actors were involved in various fashion exhibitions and demonstrations. In addition to the fashion sector, a number of food and beverage business actors also enlivened the atmosphere. One of the designers participating, Brilianto said that JMFW is a strategic space for local brands to compete for pressure on imported products.

We are dealing with many products from outside, especially from China. In my opinion, JMFW is important to promote local brands so that they can compete. Our products are actually ready to use, easy to sell, and the price is also friendly in bags. If this continues to be supported, the wheels of the economy can rotate faster, "said Brilianto.

This year, JMFW comes with a number of updates. The collaboration is expanded with lifestyle communities such as Glamlocal and Anytime Fitness to present interactive talk shows, to invite buyers from Italy, France, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore.

In addition, Business Matching and Business Networking activities are held to bring together business actors with representatives of the embassy of friendly countries.

After the opening, the Minister of Trade Busan together with Deputy Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti Widyaputri and the Director General of PEN witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Asia Pacific Rayon (APR) and PT Duniatex.

With the theme 'Essential Lab', JMFW 2026 is a laboratory room for ideas for fashion actors to produce innovations of economic value and global competitiveness.

The implementation of JMFW 2026 is also supported by various parties, including Bank Indonesia, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta, Disperindag DIY, Dekranasda Mojokerto, Wardah, Bank Syariah Indonesia, Shopee, Pegadaian, KAI, Sarinah, UBS Gold, IFC, Deatextile, to Panasonic.