Immense Potential of Indonesian Fashion and Batik to Penetrate Australian Market

To mark the beginning of the Second Indonesia Beautiful fashion show, Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney has hosted the Business and Media Meeting with Indonesian designers on 11 May 2017.

Officially launched by Dr Yayan Mulyana, Indonesian Consul General in Sydney, the meeting aims to serve as a platform for Indonesian designers to develop business contacts with their Australian counterparts as well as media coverage.

JET is proud to serve as a Moderator in the prestigious event featuring Australian fashion luminaries, namely Glynis Trail-Nash (Fashion Editor, The Australian), Alison Veness-McGourty (Editor in Chief, 10 Magazine) and Justin Cudmore (Lawyer, Marquee Law Firm).

Presenting “Overview of Australian fashion”, Glynis has highlighted the importance of product DNA which differentiate one designer’s creation with another. In short, a product should be desirable to its potential buyer.

Alison, who presented “The Role of Australian Fashion Chamber and Potential of Australian Market to Indonesian Designers”, underlined that public private partnership is essential in strengthening the close cooperation between government and private sectors in boosting local fashion industry. She points out that, under the auspice of Australian Foreign Minister, the AFC has been tasked to promote Australian creative talents in abroad through “Australian Designers in Abroad” programme, including in Paris and Jakarta. This programme is supported by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia and accordingly by Australian Embassies in the world’s fashion capitals, including in Paris and Jakarta.

Designers’ know how on budget allocation, marketing technique, legal rules including the Intellectual Property Rights and taxes, are the sort of qualities that a good designer should possess or learn as stated by Justin, who is also a member of Australian Fashion Chamber’s Board of Director.

Indonesian Fashion and Batik holds immense potentials to tap the Australian market were thoroughly highlighted by the speakers. The centuries old tradition of Batik as well as other traditional textile topped with the unique Indonesian culture from Sabang to Merauke as well as the creativity of designers are undoubtedly the strong points of Indonesian fashion. These strong points should be complemented with designers’ constant innovation to meet the foreign customers’ demands. The change of weather in Northern and Southern Hemisphere should be taken into account too, such as swimming attire with Batik pattern in Summer and warm bomber jacket with Ikat pattern in Winter.

Another pertinent point arising from the discussion is the need to separate two different markets for Indonesian fashion and Batik. The first market aimed at more general consumers which underline a not-too-pricey Batik or textile with Batik pattern. Another market aims to cater the high-end customers who appreciate premium Batik products, namely hand-painted and hand-stamped Batik.

The growing importance of creating a ‘product story’ behind the making of Batik or Ikat or a piece of clothing. Each major fashion house now includes the behind-the-scene making of an attire or accessory, including the inspiration. The necessity of online retail to designers working in the 21^st century as well as the selection of proper social media would also enhance the image and name of the designer as well as its brand.

The meeting has been attended not only by fashion business entrepreneurs but also fashion and cultural journalists, including from SBS Australia.

Never miss JET’s whirlwind fashion diplomacy events by following Instagram (@JETANDJUNG) and Facebook (JET’s Fashion Diplomacy Page).

“The example of fashion diplomacy between Indonesia and Australia is seen by the active promotion of Australian and Indonesian Foreign Ministers”, as stated by JET who served as Moderator at the event.

JET, dressed in Jenny Kee’s Koompartoo knitwear. In English, Koompartoo means “A New Beginning” (IG: @jennykeeoz).

Fashion Wefie with Australian foremost fashion figures

(L-R): Mr Justin Cudmore (Australian Fashion Chamber), Alison Veness-McGourty (Editor, 10 Magazine), Ms Glynis Traill-Nash (Editor, The Australian) and JET.

Sharing an engaging discussion with the three speakers.

The moderator in action.

My classy yet catchy Batik trousers are designed by Mr Erdan (IG: @erdanmardani)

“Indonesian Fashion and Batik holds immense potentials to tap the Australian market” as underlined by Glynis, the charismatic fashion editor of The Australian newspaper.

Batik galore for speakers!

After the show, the designers presented various Batik shawls for the designers as a token of appreciation.

Dr Yayan Mulyana (Consul General of Indonesia) with Madam Irene Mulyana and JET welcomed the speakers.

Monochromatic Jenny Kee is handsomely complemented with Erdan’s Batik trousers.

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