Heaptalk, Jakarta — Indonesia’s traditional textile industry has the potential to grow and attract increasing interest from both local and international consumers. The archipelago’s traditional fabrics, known as wastra, such as batik and woven textiles tenun and songket, are seen as capable of meeting the demand for the rising slow fashion industry amid the booming fast fashion trend, which has negative environmental impacts.
“Wastra Nusantara (Indonesian traditional textiles) exist not only as cultural products but also as a solution. Their production process, rich in local wisdom, the use of natural materials, and the philosophy behind them make wastra highly aligned with the slow fashion concept—fashion that emphasizes quality, sustainability, and fairness for all parties,” said Reni Yanita, Director General of Small, Medium, and Miscellaneous Industries (IKMA) at the Ministry of Industry, in a written statement in Jakarta on Monday (04/21).
To enhance the knowledge and implementation of sustainability concepts among traditional textile industry players, the Directorate General of IKMA at the Ministry of Industry has collaborated with the National Craft Council (Dekranas) to hold a webinar titled ‘Love for Wastra Nusantara: The Role of Wastra MSMEs in Sustainable Fashion’ on April 16, 2025. This event is part of the Road to Dekranas’ 45th Anniversary series, which the Dekranas Daily Chair officially launched on March 11, 2025.
Reni revealed that the Ministry of Industry and Dekranas are paying special attention to Indonesia’s traditional textile industry since it closely aligns with the sustainability concept currently favored by consumers in the global market. She added, “Consumer awareness of the importance of lifestyle changes in promoting environmental and ecological sustainability has led to the slow fashion trend, which stands in contrast to fast fashion.”
According to her, the current fast fashion trend is part of a fast-paced, dynamic market lifestyle and the ease with which consumers access digital information and online markets or marketplaces. This shift has also led to the habit of buying mass-produced clothing made from less eco-friendly materials, resulting in solid waste pollution.
“Additionally, the fashion industry is now expected to address sustainability issues stemming from interconnected factors such as the economy, environment, and society. The world is now moving toward fashion that is not only visually appealing but also ecologically and ethically responsible,” Reni emphasized.
Budi Setiawan, Director of Small and Medium Industries for Apparel and Crafts at the Ministry of Industry, added that the slow fashion concept offers an alternative trend that prioritizes quality over quantity, ethical production, environmental preservation, slower and planned production, and the promotion of ethical values in the supply chain. He said, “This principle not only has a positive environmental impact by reducing waste and energy consumption but also helps ensure that workers in the fashion sector receive fair wages and working conditions.”
In Indonesia, the slow fashion concept has excellent growth potential, especially with the presence of local artisans and the abundant use of natural raw materials, such as traditional fabrics, including woven textiles and batik. “Wastra, as Indonesia’s traditional fashion product, has characteristics that strongly align with slow fashion principles. The meticulous and time-consuming production process makes wastra a symbol of quality and uniqueness that supports sustainability,” he concluded.
