In April 2016, the Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited the Indonesia Fashion Forward designers pop-up shop at Fenwick of Bond Street department store in London to mark the beginning of their one month display.
The event also celebrated the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the UK and Indonesia, signalling the start of the UK and Indonesia season of collaborative work UK/Indonesia 2016-18.
What did the Indonesian fashion designers think of being in the UK?
Sheila Agatha from Sean and Sheila said 'I really like how the people dress [in London] and the energy of the city. Fashion here is so diverse and modern.'
Sean Loh agreed, adding 'It's really inspiring to see!'
It has been one of our dreams to be in the UK, as a brand and as a person as well. It’s one of the biggest fashion hubs in the world." Toton
Ari Seputra from Major Minor said 'This is our opportunity to sell the collection here and we are very happy to be here of course.'
Toton Januar from Toton said 'From what I know, and from what I observed when growing up, the UK – and London especially – is one of the most creative places in the world.
[Fashion Forward] has been fantastic. Actually, when we started the label was about the same time that we got into the programme. So all the way through we’ve grown up with them, they teach us a lot of things, and it’s been fantastic to get this far with them.'
The Indonesia Fashion Forward programme is a business skills development programme for young, Indonesian designers designed to help penetrate into the international market and showcase in international fashion weeks.
Find out more about the British Council's Indonesia Fashion Forward programme.
