The Chairwoman of the Indonesian Fashion Designers and Entrepreneurs Association (APPMI), Poppy Dharsono, stated that the collaboration between European footwear manufacturing giant MICAM and Indonesia Fashion Week offers a promising opportunity for shared economic growth, particularly in the leather fashion industry. According to Poppy, Italy—long recognized as a fashion powerhouse—has a timely opportunity to strengthen its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in Indonesia, a dynamic market with over 285 million people. She emphasized that this partnership is more than just a cultural exchange; it brings technical expertise and training that could accelerate the development of Indonesia’s leather industry while also opening up vast new markets for Italian brands.
MICAM President Giovanna Ceolini highlighted the growing interest of European footwear industries in Indonesia’s young designers, seeing their potential to create innovative products that boost exports. Indonesia, the world's fifth-largest footwear producer, represents a vibrant, ambitious economic force. Ceolini noted that in a time of geopolitical uncertainty and market fragmentation, MICAM serves as a critical platform connecting global production and distribution, while translating aesthetic ideas into high-quality products. This collaboration—anchored in a joint event held from May 28 to June 1—marks a strategic alignment between Europe and Indonesia. MICAM’s scholarship-based Academy Project further bridges the two countries, offering Indonesian students intensive training in Milan. The initiative is seen not just as education but as a cultural bridge fostering long-term ties, while also ushering in a new chapter in Indonesia’s fashion ecosystem—especially for footwear, an often-overlooked sector with high potential for young designers, artisans, and local creatives.
