JAKARTA - BTN Indonesia Fashion Week (IFW) 2026 has just ended after being held for five days, namely from July 29 to August 2, 2026. The closing of this major fashion event presents a special moment through a collection titled "Ulos Simetria", a presentation that raises the wealth of North Sumatra textiles to the national fashion stage.
For those who are not familiar, ulos is a traditional woven fabric typical of North Sumatra that has been passed down from generation to generation and is full of cultural meaning. In the IFW 2026 cover collection, the designers not only display ulos, but also combine it with various weaving techniques typical of the region. From songket, ikat weaving, dobel lungsi, to sirat and marsimata techniques.
What is interesting is that these classic fabrics are given a contemporary touch through a more dynamic silhouette, the use of natural dyes with a soft pastel color palette, and ornamental details as accents. This approach makes ulos feel closer and more relevant to the younger generation without losing its cultural roots.
The Chairman of the Indonesian Fashion Designers and Entrepreneurs Association (APPMI) and President of the Indonesia Fashion Week, Poppy Dharsono, explained the philosophy behind this theme.
"Through the theme of Ulos Simetria, we are invited to understand that progress must go hand in hand with the preservation of cultural values, that tradition and innovation are not two opposing things, but two complementary forces to build the future of the Indonesian fashion industry," said Poppy at the Jakarta Convention Center, Central Jakarta, Sunday, December 2, 2026.
As one of the largest fashion weeks in Indonesia, IFW 2026 involves more than 200 designers and 500 UMKM tenants from various parts of the country.
The series of events also includes various activities, including fashion shows, trade exhibitions, talkshows, creative forums, entertainment, and culinary offerings, a complete ecosystem designed to encourage a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable fashion industry.
In terms of numbers, this five-day event managed to mobilize more than 4,000 creative workers and attract more than 35,000 visitors, with total transactions recorded exceeding Rp. 10 billion.
This achievement confirms that the fashion creative industry has real strength in supporting the wheels of the economy, even in the midst of an economic condition that is not completely stable.
Behind the glitz of the stage, there is support from the banking sector which also strengthens this ecosystem. BTN plays a role in facilitating access to financial services for industry players, including opening access to capital through the People's Business Loan (KUR) program for fashion and designer MSMEs so that they can develop their business, both in the domestic and international markets.
"In the future, BTN will continue to strengthen collaboration with various creative industry ecosystems. We want to be more than just a bank, but to be a growth partner that provides financial solutions and opens more opportunities for the people of Indonesia," added President Director of PT Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk Nixon L.P. Napitupulu represented by Director of Commercial Banking PT Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk Hermita.
This momentum was also used by the Governor of North Sumatra, Bobby Nasution, to express his region's readiness to become a national fashion center.
"Therefore, we from North Sumatra on this occasion, in this activity, in the closing of IFW tonight, convey our readiness to become the Indonesian Fashion City. We are ready to become the center of Indonesian fashion," concluded Bobby.
"We believe that the cultural heritage that has been passed down from our ancestors to all of us today from North Sumatra can revive the economy, especially the people of North Sumatra, and revive the national economy, especially in the fashion industry," he continued.
Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana also provided an interesting perspective on how ulos through the fashion stage, can be a gateway to introducing Indonesian culture to the world.
According to him, when someone sees a piece of ulos translated through the work of a designer on the runway, it can be the starting point for someone's curiosity about the origin of the fabric, who made it, and where the culture grew.
"Curiosity is the beginning of cultural diplomacy. From there, the desire to come, get to know it better, and then return to the area one day was born," he said.
"Indonesia Fashion Week shows that fashion is able to be a gateway to introduce Indonesia to the world." he added.
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