Indonesia - the capital of Muslim fashion?

JAKARTA: As evident at the Jakarta Fashion Week 2014, Indonesia, which is home to a Muslim majority, is in the run for becoming a world leader in the Muslim fashion industry, which is worth almost $100 billion.

The Indonesian government is nurturing young designers and garment trade, which provides employment to more than three million people and %15 billion to the economy. Tourism and creative economy minister Mari Pangestu said, “We can be the trend-setter… We have the vision and mission [needed to make] Indonesia the capital of Muslim fashion.”

Unlike Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan, Indonesia perceives the Islamic concept of observing modesty in moderate terms. While headdresses are mandatory and outfits are not supposed to be skimpy and see-through, the three young Indonesians who started-off Jakarta Fashion Week diverged from the stereotypes with their ready-to-wear collection.

The three designers – Nur Zahra, Jenahara Nasution and Dian Wahyu Utami – were participants of the government’s Indonesia Fashion Forward program. Their collections aimed at targeting a broad audience, including women in Western countries. While Zahra showcased folk designs, Nasution’s collection comprised of sleek cuts. And Utami’s clothing line revived the 1960s with vivid colours and prints.

Nasution’s Jenahara brand is in talks with agent from Milan to showcase the collection in Italy, Russia and Dubai. After displaying her Dian Pelangi clothing line for the first time in Melbourne five years ago, Utami realised that “there is international potential for Muslim fashion.” “Korea is famous for its K-Pop culture and Indonesia is famous for its Muslim wear, so why don’t we focus on that?” Utami said.