When the elegance of Indonesian modest fashion conquers Paris
Elegance and modesty, with a touch of discreet refinement, modest Muslim fashion is arousing immense global enthusiasm.
She has the art of pleasing a growing number of women around the world, Muslim and non-Muslim, while lifting the veil on a reality that is still too unsuspected or denied: Islam is not the enemy of the creation of chic and becoming women’s clothing, as long as it is decent, and is in no way opposed to it being at the forefront of trends.
In the space of a few years, Indonesia, the first land of Islam in terms of its population, has managed to leave its mark on this unique Islamic fashion, subtly combining tradition and modernity, and endowed with prodigious potential, of which it sensed that only its ready-to-wear collections would be modest, but not its success…
The inspired authorities of the world’s largest archipelago have therefore bet on what was still only a very promising economic niche, drawing on the pool of Indonesian designers and the variety of traditional fabrics for the resources needed to turn it into a leading industry.
Nearly ten years later, the bet has already paid off, since the extraordinarily flourishing market for modest Muslim fashion is now playing in the big leagues – its growth forecasts at the dawn of 2024 exceeded 500 billion dollars –, as for the ambitions displayed by Indonesia, they seem more than ever within reach: to become the world center of Muslim fashion.
Where better than in Paris, the undisputed capital of fashion, could the talent of nine Indonesian designers shine in broad daylight, and the appeal of their clothing brands shine under the sunlight?
It is with the conviction that Paris remains one of the most formidable springboards for strengthening the visibility of modest Muslim fashion, 100% made in Indonesia, that Bank Indonesia (BI) and the Indonesian Fashion Chamber (IFC) recently organized a prestigious event there: the Indonesian International Modest Fashion Festival (IN2MF), which Oumma had the privilege of attending.
This major operation, placed under the aegis of Indonesian Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs and the Indonesian Embassy in Pariswas punctuated by two highlights: an exhibition at the Salle Wagram on September 7, and a “Who’s Next” fashion show at the Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles from September 8 to 10.
Among the eminent Indonesian personalities with whom Oumma was able to speak on this occasion, Ali Charisma, IFC Director, welcomed the spotlight on the infinite richness of Indonesian culture.
” This International Festival of Indonesian Modest Fashion that we are organizing in Paris, a fashion stronghold, and which we hope will become an unmissable event, is a prestigious showcase that reveals to as many people as possible the richness of Indonesian culture, through creations that combine tradition and modernity, notably through the use of emblematic fabrics such as batik and tenun. ” he said happily.
” Participants were able to discover eco-responsible creations, designed to minimize the environmental impact, while maintaining a high level of quality. ” he insisted.
Crossed in the aisles of this very popular event, His Excellency Mohamad Oemar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Indonesia to the French Republice, of the Principality of Andorra, the Principality of Monaco and the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Indonesia to UNESCOdid us the honor of answering our questions.
” This Festival provides a beautiful and valuable opportunity for Indonesian designers to showcase the full breadth of their creativity in Muslim modest fashion, as well as the depth of their heritage and their innovative dimension. “, enthused the Indonesian ambassador in Paris since 2021, before emphasizing: ” I am also pleased that this great event goes beyond the simple presentation of clothes to constitute a real platform promoting the halal lifestyle more widely. “.
A satisfaction that is fully shared Juda Agung, Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia, who confided to us, more confident than ever in the bright future that lies ahead: “ It is not by chance that we have chosen Paris to highlight Indonesian modest fashion. We are convinced that it is from the French capital that fruitful and lasting commercial collaborations can be established, and that the visibility of our Muslim fashion industry will be increased internationally “.
Taking advantage of the highly sought-after podium of the Indonesian International Modest Fashion Festival (IN2MF) in Paris, Indonesian modest fashion showed that it had everything it needed to be great, and Indonesia that it had given itself the means to achieve its lofty ambitions.
