The Muslim fashion industry, now known as the modest fashion industry, has shown consistent growth in Indonesia in recent years. This positive trend has helped make Indonesia one of the leading players in the global modest fashion industry.
“With the creativity of designers, natural and cultural richness, distinctive design innovation and a large Muslim population, Indonesia is considered to have great potential to dominate the international Muslim fashion market,” Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said in a statement in Jakarta on Friday (17/10).
To encourage the growth and development of the national modest fashion industry, the government is working with various stakeholders to broaden its benefits and positive impact. One strategic step being pursued is holding various events and exhibitions that can serve as platforms for domestic modest fashion industry players to showcase their work, expand their markets and strengthen national industrial ecosystem networks.
The Director General of Small, Medium and Miscellaneous Industries (IKMA), Reni Yanita, explained that the global Islamic economy market, including the modest fashion sector, has very promising growth prospects.
“According to the State of Global Islamic Economy Report (SGIER) 2024/2025, in 2023 Muslim consumer spending in six main sectors reached USD 2.43 trillion and is projected to grow by 5.3 percent to USD 3.36 trillion in 2028,” she said in her opening remarks at the Indonesia International Modest Fashion Festival (IN2MOTIONFEST) 2025 in Jakarta recently.
IN2MOTIONFEST 2025 is an annual event organized by Bank Indonesia together with the Indonesia Fashion Chamber (IFC). The exhibition carries the theme “One Vision, One Movement: Advancing Indonesia Modest Fashion Through Synergy & Collaboration”, emphasizing the importance of collective movement, collaboration and cross-sector synergy in bringing Indonesian modest fashion to the international stage.
On that occasion, Reni expressed appreciation to all parties collaborating in organizing the event. “We are optimistic that the involvement of various parties will accelerate the development of the Muslim fashion industry in Indonesia while raising the potential of the archipelago's wastra fabrics so that they can penetrate international markets,” she said.
Reni stressed that Indonesia's potential is not only as a market, but also as a producer and leading player in the global modest fashion industry. She therefore invited all stakeholders, from industry associations, businesses, designers and academics to influencers and marketplaces, to play an active role in realizing a sustainable and highly competitive modest fashion industry.
This development potential is reflected in 2024 data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), which recorded 594 thousand small apparel industry units employing 1.2 million people. Meanwhile, Indonesia's modest fashion exports to member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2023 reached USD 990 million, up 83 percent from USD 540 million the previous year.
“This achievement places Indonesia seventh among countries with the highest exports to OIC countries, after China, Turkey and India,” Reni said.
Seeing this potential and these achievements, the Director General of IKMA is confident Indonesia has a great opportunity to become the global modest fashion center, supported by the creativity of local designers, cultural richness and a variety of high-quality textile materials.
To strengthen the growth of the national Muslim fashion industry so that it becomes more competitive in export markets, Reni also encouraged businesses to keep developing their products so they can compete in both domestic and global markets. She stressed the importance of cooperation with local apparel industries, including the small and medium industry (SMI) sector, to create a broad multiplier effect.
Meanwhile, the Director of Chemical, Clothing and Craft SMIs, Budi Setiawan, added that the Ministry of Industry has prepared various policies and programs to strengthen the fashion industry ecosystem, including modest fashion.
“The programs we run include improving human resource competence, developing product quality, fostering new entrepreneurs, facilitating product and competency certification, including halal certification, through to providing machinery and equipment assistance, business incubation and access to promotion and exhibitions,” Budi explained.
In every activity, Budi continued, his team also continues to collaborate with various parties. “We hope SMI players can use this opportunity as a springboard to move up to a higher level,” he concluded.
Source: Press Release of the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Indonesia