The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs in collaboration with LAKON Indonesia, Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) and Bank Indonesia (BI) launched a new project called KRTA, under which they will release a modern fashion line whose products are made from Indonesian traditional fabrics or wastra. 

Cooperatives and SMEs Minister Teten Masduki said that the project is an effort to find new interpretations of fashion that really represents Indonesia's diversity. It is also a form of exploring the future of fashion, where Indonesian local wisdom meets a contemporary touch.

“Hopefully, this good initiative may lead to various potential collaborations, which in the end will have great impacts for the wider community, especially MSMEs in the Indonesian fashion industry,” he said. 

The use of high quality local raw materials that are environmentally friendly, as well as the business model that is particularly prepared to encourage development, are expected to provide optimal welfare for local MSME players, Teten added. 

“The KRTA project is designed so it could be used as an alternative reference for modern and inclusive national clothing designs that can be adopted by all fashion SMEs throughout Indonesia. The end result [the products] could be worn on various official and national events, representing our pride,” the minister explained.

LAKON Indonesia founder Thresia Mareta said that LAKON Indonesia has conducted research regarding pattern development as well as how to make product samples.These will be the learning materials that will be delivered to the MSMEs during the training and coaching program.

The first collection for the KRTA project is titled “Aradhana” that was launched on 11 November. Products under “Aradhana” use Indonesian traditional fabrics, such as batik, songket and tenun ikat. The process of creating the products is simplified while still maintaining the perfection of the traditional technique so that it could be easily adopted and executed by all MSMEs across the country.