Awareness of the environmental impact of the fast fashion trend has given rise to new demands for more ethical and sustainable business models. With its wealth of wastra and textile traditions, Indonesia has the potential to become a leading player in developing a fashion industry that is not only economically valuable, but also sustainable and socially meaningful.
“The concept of sustainability is not only a market demand, but also an important strategy for strengthening the competitiveness of small and medium industry (SMI) players, especially in the fashion and craft sectors based on local culture,” the Director General of Small, Medium and Miscellaneous Industries (IKMA), Reni Yanita, said in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday (28/6).
In an effort to support the sustainable transformation of wastra and the fashion industry amid the growing trend of fast fashion, the Ministry of Industry, through the Directorate General of IKMA, has actively carried out various initiatives such as development, training and promotion for SMI players.
One strategic step was a webinar series with the theme “Sustainability: Building Wastra SMIs with a Slow Fashion Concept”, held by the Fashion and Craft Industry Empowerment Center (BPIFK), a work unit under the Directorate General of Small, Medium and Miscellaneous Industries of Kemenperin, on 19–21 June 2025. The event was also part of the Road to the 45th Anniversary of the National Crafts Council (Dekranas).
“This webinar aims to equip wastra SMI players with knowledge and strategies for adopting the slow fashion concept, which emphasizes responsible, ethical and environmentally friendly production. The concept is expected to increase the competitiveness of wastra SMIs in local and global markets, while preserving culture and the environment,” the Director General of IKMA said.
According to Reni, the growing fast fashion trend has also raised awareness of environmental issues in the fashion industry, encouraging more sustainable innovation. The slow fashion concept has therefore emerged amid the environmental challenges facing the fashion industry today. “The slow fashion concept emphasizes quality, ethics and sustainability in the production process, and is in harmony with the spirit of the archipelago's wastra, which upholds the values of local wisdom and creativity,” she explained.
Reni also stressed the importance of transforming wastra and the fashion industry in a more sustainable direction, because the global fashion industry is one of the sectors that can contribute large carbon emissions, with very high resource use. This has made the global public aware of the importance of sustainability in the fashion industry, and national SMI players must also be more adaptive to sustainability demands without abandoning their cultural roots.
“The wastra industry can take advantage of the trend of rising consumer environmental awareness to strengthen its position by offering sustainable slow fashion while meeting market demand for products that are meaningful, of high value and environmentally friendly,” she said.
Toward sustainable SMIs
Reni further said that, based on a 2022 Jakpat survey, Gen Z shows interest in vintage, retro, and circular fashion products that align with sustainability values. “This reflects a great opportunity for fashion SMI players to develop products that are not only aesthetically appealing, but also ethically and ecologically relevant,” she added.
Reni said the webinar is a contribution to advancing the development of the wastra fashion industry and supporting wastra fashion SMI players in Indonesia. “We hope this webinar can spark enthusiasm for advancing the archipelago's wastra by upholding local values and the quality of the wastra itself,” she said.
The Head of the Fashion and Craft Industry Empowerment Center (BPIFK), Dickie Sulistya, said the event is a concrete form of collaboration between government, associations and businesses in encouraging inclusive and sustainable SMI growth. He stressed that developing the national fashion industry depends not only on product creativity, but also on the ability to adapt to global trends and consumer preferences.
“This webinar is a form of synergy between Ditjen IKMA, Dekranas, Provincial Dekranasda across Indonesia and other collaborators in building an innovative, sustainable fashion SMI ecosystem based on local culture,” he said.
Dickie also added that BPIFK exists as a Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) to support fashion and craft SMI players through training, incubation and promotion facilitation, so that their products are not only aesthetically superior, but also relevant to today's global values.
The webinar series raised three strategic main topics: “A Glimpse of the Future from the Market Potential of the Wastra Fashion Industry”, “Love the Earth, Preserve Culture: Developing Innovation and Creativity in a Sustainable Wastra Industry”, and “Spreading the Wings of Wastra Fashion SMIs Toward Wider Markets”. Speakers came from various backgrounds, such as designer Ali Charisma, IDFL Indonesia, Torajamelo and PT Internasional Multi Nusa, who shared insights and experience in building a sustainable fashion industry.
Dickie said the webinar was a forum for interactive discussion, case study presentations and business inspiration from SMI players, broadening participants' insights into opportunities for developing wastra products relevant to sustainable fashion trends.
“With this webinar, we hope a shared commitment will emerge to build a national fashion industry that is greener, inclusive and culture-based, so that national fashion SMIs can face global challenges with products that are not only beautiful and high-quality, but also environmentally friendly and uphold the values of local heritage,” he concluded.
Source: Press Release of the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Indonesia