North Sumatra's sacred Ulos cloth is now the official theme of Indonesia's biggest fashion week, and the government wants it on shelves in 32 countries next.
A woven cloth once reserved for weddings and funerals just opened Southeast Asia's biggest fashion week. On Wednesday, July 29, 2026, models walked the runway at Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC) in Senayan, Central Jakarta, wrapped in Ulos  the traditional handwoven textile of the Batak people of North Sumatra  reimagined as streetwear, evening gowns, and tailored blazers.

At a Glance

• Edition: 14th BTN Indonesia Fashion Week (IFW)
• Dates: July 29 – August 2, 2026 (5 days)
• Venue: Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC), Senayan
• Theme province: North Sumatra, with the concept "Ulos Simetria"
• Trade reach: Indonesia has trade representatives in 32 countries pushing fashion exports

What Is BTN Indonesia Fashion Week 2026?

BTN Indonesia Fashion Week 2026 is the 14th edition of Indonesia's largest annual fashion event, organized by the Indonesian Fashion Designers and Entrepreneurs Association (APPMI) and running July 29 to August 2 at JICC in Central Jakarta. This year, North Sumatra holds the Official Theme title with "Ulos Simetria," putting the province's traditional Ulos weaving front and center across runway shows, trade exhibitions, and creative forums. Hundreds of designers, fashion houses, brand owners, artisans, and small business owners from across Indonesia are taking part, alongside government officials and industry stakeholders working to grow the country's fashion economy.

Why Did North Sumatra's Ulos Become the Official Theme?
Poppy Dharsono, President of Indonesia Fashion Week and Chair of APPMI, said choosing Ulos Simetria does more than showcase North Sumatra's cultural wealth  it makes a point about balance. In Batak culture, Ulos represents warmth, harmony, unity, and equilibrium, values Poppy said the fashion industry needs as it navigates tradition and global trends.

"We want to affirm that Indonesia's fashion industry must keep the balance between tradition and innovation, between local wisdom and global competition, and between cultural values and the future of the creative industry," Poppy said at the opening ceremony.

Designers are translating Ulos motifs into modern silhouettes rather than replicating traditional garments outright  a deliberate move to keep the fabric relevant without stripping away its symbolism.

What's Happening During the Five Days?
Beyond the runway, BTN IFW 2026 packs in trade exhibitions, creative industry forums, panel discussions, live entertainment, and a culinary festival. Rully Setiawan, Director of Network & Retail Funding at Bank BTN, the event's title sponsor, called it a driver of the creative economy  connecting business owners, opening market access, boosting transactions and investment, and strengthening tourism at the same time.

Kahiyang Ayu Bobby Nasution, Chair of North Sumatra's Regional Handicraft Council (Dekranasda), wants that momentum to reach further than Jakarta's runways. She's pushing for Ulos to gain recognition among Gen Z and international audiences  not just as a fashion textile, but as a tourism draw with real economic value. She's also urging designers to dig deeper into Ulos's motifs and philosophy for future collections.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend, and Who's Backing the Export Push?
Deputy Trade Minister Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri said Indonesia's fashion strength lies in the sheer diversity of traditional textiles across its provinces. The government is expanding market access through trade attachés and Indonesia Trade Promotion Centers (ITPC) stationed in 32 countries, aiming to turn wastra  Indonesia's traditional woven fabrics  into a genuine export category. Ticket categories and pricing for BTN IFW 2026 are listed on the event's official channels, which also cover access to trade exhibitions versus runway shows.

The bigger bet: that a handwoven cloth from Lake Toba's highlands can hold its own on global fashion racks without losing what makes it Batak.