TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Teten Masduki has encouraged Indonesian consumers to buy domestic products.

"Local products are cool and unique, it's different from foreign brands," he said, during a discussion with denim clothing entrepreneur at the 2022 Wall of Fades (WOF) event in Bandung, West Java Province, as quoted in a press statement on Sunday.

The minister said that Indonesia should emulate South Korea whose K-pop music has influenced the world, thanks to their love of domestic culture.

He hopes the Indonesian people will be able to create world-scale trends so that they can influence the global community.

On the occasion, he appealed to darahkubiru denim community, which is the organizer of the WOF 2022 event, to make a proud movement for local brands.

He conveyed the appeal given that many young people are currently more interested in unique local products than foreign products.

"I think nowadays many youths prefer to use unique local products such as shoes, clothes, pants and bags rather than using products from big brands or foreign brands. This may be the first step to create a narrative that is not only accepted domestically but also abroad," the minister said.

Local denim businesses, he said, could take advantage of the high interest of young people for unique items.

"Artisanal products are unique and different from mass-produced products. Many young people today prefer unique products over mass-produced products," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of WOF 2022 Rizqi Alkautsar said that the event he held at the Roastman Experience, Bandung, from March 4-6, presented 20 local denim brands.

Besides Bandung, WOF 2022 will also be held at Jakarta Senayan Park from 24-27 March 2022 by presenting 60 local denim.

"We are targeting 2,000 visits in WOF 2022 held in Bandung and 15,000 to 30,000 visits from events held in Jakarta," said Alkautsar.

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ANTARA