Fashion Diplomacy Highlights the Issue of Sustainability in Indonesian Fashion Products

TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - Sustainability is one of the key modalities that fashion and creative industry players must consider in order to penetrate the global market. This issue is also emphasized in the "Emerging Designers Bootcamp" program with the theme "Fashion Diplomacy; Bringing Sustainability into Fashion," held in Yogyakarta from August 11 to 25, 2024, as reported by the kemlu.go.id.

According to Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Emerging Designers Bootcamp (EDB) program is an initiative from the Directorate General of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Australian Embassy in Jakarta and the Provincial Government of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) which is aimed at promoting fashion diplomacy cooperation, as well as to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Australia, and for the sister province cooperation between DIY and the State of Victoria, Australia.

The Emerging Designers Bootcamp (EDB) is an innovative fashion diplomacy program aimed at promoting cultural exchange and collaboration between young Australian designers and the Indonesian fashion community. The program invited three young Australian designers - Josh Deane, Nikki Edgar, and Zao Chanwen - to have a residency program for two weeks in Yogyakarta and to engage directly with the cultural heritage, artistic traditions, and contemporary design scene of Yogyakarta.

Director General for Information and Public Diplomacy, Siti Nugraha Mauludiah, expressed her appreciation to the Australian designers for their Batik creations that emphasize sustainable environmental innovation and the spirit of collaboration with Jogjakarta's designers and creative industry players. "I hope this program is not the first and last. I also hope the designers will continue to make breakthroughs, collaborate with their Indonesian counterparts, including in efforts to introduce Batik to the Australian market, and strengthen people-to-people relations between the two countries through direct interaction between young designers from both nations," said the Director General.

Echoing the Director General, Deputy Ambassador of Australia to Indonesia, Madeline Moss, stated that people-to-people relations have always been at the core of the relationship between the two countries. The current fashion collaboration between Australian and Indonesian designers is an example of this bond. "We are very pleased to be invited by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to join this fashion diplomacy initiative," said Madeline Moss.

As part of the EDB program, the three Australian designers participated in various skill-building workshops, visits, and collaborative projects with local artisans and designers. At the culmination of the program, their creations were showcased at Jogja Fashion Week and the Fashion on the Street Prawirotaman from August 22 to 24.

In the spirit of sustainability, the designers were asked to create Australian-inspired works using Batik with natural dyes and Batik made with palm oil wax, which is more environmentally friendly compared to paraffin. In addition to producing better colors, the use of palm oil wax is derived from vegetable oil and meets sustainable palm oil standards.

As part of the Emerging Designers Bootcamp series, a Business Talk titled "Unlocking Opportunities in the Australian Fashion Industry" was also held, featuring Director for Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Ani Nigeriawati to deliver the Keynote Speech, as well as the panelists for the discussion namely the Executive Director of Indonesian Textiles, Danang Girindrawardana, Dean of Fashion and Textiles at RMIT Melbourne, Dr. Tassia Joannides, and one of the EDB participants, Josh Deane.

Director for Public Diplomacy, Ani Nigeriawati, expressed her hope that the EDB program can continue next year with the implementation of the program in Melbourne. "The EDB program is targeted to be held again next year and we have proposed to the Australia Embassy in Jakarta that the program can be carried out in Melbourne, bringing Batik designers from Yogyakarta for a residency program and the opportunity to showcase their designs at Melbourne Fashion Week 2025 in October." said the Director.

In this discussion, Dr. Joannides emphasized that the Australian fashion market is very open to Indonesian products, provided they consider aspects of sustainability, circularity, and the importance of the stories behind the fashion products. The Business Talk successfully served as a platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and strategies in developing sustainable and competitive fashion products in the international market, particularly in Australia.

TEMPO.CO | MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

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