REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BOGOR -- The National Chairman of Indonesian Fashion Chamber (IFC), Ali Charisma, expressed his hope that Indonesia would become the world's Muslim fashion reference. He and the Muslim Fashion Community met President Joko Widodo at the Bogor Presidential Palace.

"We know that Milan is well known for its ready-to-wear fashion. While the US is famous for its sport fashion and Tokyo for its contemporary fashion design, Indonesia is famous for its Muslim fashion design. We can contribute to the potential Muslim fashion design sector," Charisma stated here on Thursday.

Charisma noted that Indonesia's image as the Muslim fashion reference can attract international business persons to visit the country.

According to Charisma, the effort is considered to be more efficient and beneficial for fashion designers. The effort also promotes Indonesia as the center for Muslim fashion design.

He added that Indonesian Muslim fashion style is also suitable for the international market, such as in Middle East, Europe, as well as Asian region. Local knowledge, including the use of batik, is applied in the Indonesian Muslim fashion designs.

However, Charisma added that the challenge faced by the designers is to improve the standard of Indonesian Muslim fashion and the innovation to be in line with international standards.

Charisma hoped that the cooperation with the government can provide a solution to improve the quality standard of Indonesian Muslim fashion style.

Jokowi received 28 representatives of the Muslim fashion community to receive inputs and response from the designers on the market of Muslim clothing in the country.

On the occasion, President Jokowi was surprised on attending the Indonesia Muslim Fashion Festival 2018 at the Plenary Hall of the Jakarta Convention Center on Apr 19. "I was surprised to see the potential, talent, and power of our Muslim fashion designers," the president remarked.

The head of state was optimistic of talks being held between the government and business players in the field of Muslim clothing in the framework of both domestic and export markets. "I believe that God willing, we will be able to become powerful or possess great power in controlling the Muslim fashion market in the world," he remarked.

The president also pointed out that the value of the nation's fashion market annually reached Rp166 trillion, of which Muslim fashion constituted Rp54 trillion. "It is a high amount, but I think it could be injected again to increase, especially in the outer markets," the president stated.

As a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia will have the opportunity to have a wider Muslim fashion market. "However, good cooperation is necessary among designers, Muslim entrepreneurs, and the government," President Jokowi remarked.

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