JAKARTA - The fashion industry does not only develop through fashion trends that change from time to time. Behind a collection, there is a long process involving creativity, research, skills, understanding of materials, to the ability of fashion players to read the changes of the times.
For designers and fashion brands, having creative ideas is often not enough. They also need to understand how to develop products, build brand identity, manage businesses, and expand networks.
Therefore, the opportunity to learn and exchange experiences is an important part of the journey of a fashion industry player.
Collaboration is also one way to open new perspectives. Meetings between designers with different backgrounds, including cross-country and cross-cultural, can present a more diverse creative approach.
From this process, local inspiration can meet global ideas without having to lose its original identity.
This is what is increasingly visible in the development of the Indonesian fashion ecosystem. The relationship between fashion players, artisan communities, educational institutions, mentors, and the creative industry continues to be built to create a space that supports the growth of talent.
One of the efforts is through the PINTU Incubator which enters its fifth year of implementation in 2026. This program strengthens the collaboration between Indonesian and French fashion through talent development, knowledge exchange, creative collaboration, and cross-cultural experiences.
This year, the journey was realized through a number of programs, ranging from collaborations between Indonesian and French brands, Lil Public's participation in the annual performance of École Duperré in Paris in early July, to two collections from the PINTU Residency developed through the research process and collaboration with the artisan community in Lombok and Mojokerto.
2026 is also a new milestone with the start of the process of forming the PINTU Incubator Indonesia Foundation. This step is part of efforts to strengthen the continuity of the program, build a more solid structure, and expand the impact on the Indonesian fashion ecosystem.
In a press conference held on Monday, July 20, 2026, at the JF3 Media Room, Gafoy, Summarecon Mall Kelapa Gading, PINTU conveyed the development of the 2026 program, various collaborations that have taken place, as well as the participants and collections that will be present in the series of JF3 Fashion Festival 2026 on July 22-29.
The journey of a fashion designer or brand certainly does not stop at the process of creating clothes. Understanding of business, production, communication, marketing, to legal aspects is also an important resource to develop a work sustainably.
PINTU Incubator is a joint initiative of JF3, LAKON Indonesia, and the French Embassy in Indonesia through the Institut français d'Indonésie, IFI. Since its launch in 2022, the program has attracted the interest of more than 10 thousand brands and designers.
In 2026, PINTU Incubator received 39 applicants. After going through the selection process, ten participants took part in the incubation program and five of them were selected to present their collections at the JF3 Fashion Festival 2026.
This program is built on the understanding that fashion talents need more than just creativity. They also need space to learn, understand the process, broaden their perspectives, and find the most relevant direction for the development of their respective works and brands.
Thresia Mareta, Co-Initiator of PINTU Incubator and Founder of LAKON Indonesia explained that PINTU was not built to provide the same answer to every participant, but to help them understand their own journey and choices.
"We believe that talent does not always grow because it is given more answers. Often, they actually develop when they are met with the right experiences, perspectives, and questions," said Thresia Mareta.
"We built PINTU as a space to go through the process of recognizing strengths, looking back at what hasn't worked, and understanding where a work wants to be taken. Because in the end, what we hope for is not only the birth of a good collection, but fashion actors who are able to continue to grow and determine their own steps," he added.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of JF3 and Co-Initiator of PINTU Incubator, Soegianto Nagaria emphasized the importance of an ecosystem that works consistently in supporting the growth of fashion players.
"From the beginning, JF3 not only wants to provide a stage, but also be part of the growth process of industry players. Through PINTU, we build a space that brings together talent with knowledge, mentors, networks, professional experience, and collaboration opportunities. We believe that a strong ecosystem must be able to accompany them to continue to grow in the long term," said Soegianto Nagaria.
In the talent development process, learning experiences from various fields can help designers see fashion more broadly. A collection is not only judged by the final look, but also by how the idea is developed, how the product is marketed, to how the production process is carried out.
In 2026, PINTU Incubator presents 39 capacity development sessions covering business strategy, merchandising, product development, communication, law and intellectual property, import-export, finance, and styling.
The program involves 18 mentors from Indonesia and France with backgrounds in design, business, retail, law, finance, communication, marketing, product development, and the creative industry.
After going through a series of classes, mentoring, evaluation, and curation, five participants were selected to present their collections at the JF3 Fashion Festival 2026. They consist of two brands, Saul Studio and Toja House, as well as three designers, ALDRIE, ANDREAN NR, and DACIA.
The five participants presented diverse approaches. The exploration conducted includes construction and tailoring, development of accessories with artisans, reinterpretation of Nusantara textiles, genderless approach, upcycling practices, to the development of products that emphasize craftsmanship, inclusiveness, and responsibility in the production process.
These various approaches show that fashion can be a space to explore identity, culture, technology, as well as sustainability issues. Creativity can also develop when fashion players have the opportunity to learn from various perspectives.
In addition to talent development, cross-country collaboration can also be a way to broaden the insight of fashion industry players. Differences in cultural backgrounds and creative approaches can result in an interesting exchange of ideas.
On the Accelerator track, DENIMITUP developed a collaboration with the French label TAREET. The collaboration brings together two creative approaches in the process of developing a collection together.
Meanwhile, Lil Public participated in the annual performance of the École Duperré in Paris in early July 2026. This participation is part of the growing relationship between PINTU and French fashion education institutions.
This opportunity also provides presentation and interaction experiences for Indonesian brands in the international fashion environment. From here, the networks formed can open new opportunities for collaboration and exchange of experiences.
Fashion collaborations are also a way to reintroduce the richness of traditional culture and techniques through a more modern perspective. The process can involve designers, artisans, materials, and local communities.
Entering its second implementation, PINTU Residency brings together two Indonesian designers and two French designers in a four-month residency program. This program is curated by Thresia Mareta, Pascaline Wilhelm, and Carol Meyer.
Running from April to July 2026, participants undergo a process of joint research, exploring traditional textile techniques, working directly with artisan communities, and developing collections through the exchange of knowledge and culture.
In Lombok, French designer Mickaël Nana collaborated with Indonesian designer Beatrice Angelica to develop the GARUDA collection. This collection combines a Western tailoring approach with Lombok weaving and songket, through a contemporary interpretation of the Garuda symbol as a representation of power, freedom, and identity.
Meanwhile, in Mojokerto, Lisa Rayar and Gabriel Marcella developed the AU LARGE collection. Inspired by French maritime traditions and Javanese coastal culture, this collection brings together batik, tailoring structures, and uniform references in contemporary silhouettes.
The results of both processes will be presented for the first time at the JF3 Fashion Festival 2026.
More than just producing a collection, PINTU Residency builds a space for dialogue between designers, artisans, materials, techniques, and different cultural backgrounds. This collaboration is an effort to create a creative process that is equal, relevant, and has long-term value for all parties involved.
The development of the fashion industry requires an ecosystem that can support talent in the long term. In addition to a stage to showcase their work, fashion players also need access to knowledge, professional experience, mentors, networks, and opportunities to collaborate.
The start of the process of forming the PINTU Incubator Indonesia Foundation is a step to strengthen the continuity of the program and expand its impact on the fashion ecosystem.
Through incubation, acceleration, residency, and various collaborations between Indonesia and France, PINTU will continue to build a learning space, exchange, and opportunities that are relevant for the new generation of fashion players.
The presence of programs like this shows that fashion development is not only determined by trends that emerge on the runway. Behind it, there is a long process to develop talent, maintain skills, introduce culture, and create collaborations that can bring the Indonesian fashion industry to be more recognized globally.
PINTU is not only present to organize programs, but to build relationships, experiences, and processes that can give birth to new possibilities for the development of the Indonesian fashion industry.
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