Indonesia Fashion Week or IFW will be held from Wednesday 22 February to Sunday 26 February 2023. This year, the biggest fashion event in Indonesia is highlighting various cultures from Gorontalo, entitled 'Sagara from the East.' The 10th IFW was carried out with great enthusiasm for the hope of reviving creative industry MSMEs after going through difficult times during the pandemic. For two years, the economic wheel of the creative industry has been affected by the pandemic. However, Indonesian fashionistas are still passionate about being creative.

The President of IFW, Poppy Dharsono, said that this year the Province of Gorontalo trusted IFW to introduce korowo embroidery to a wide audience. IFW has also carried out an incubator process for UMKM karawo textile craftsmen in Gorontalo Province to improve the quality of design, production, branding and marketing of the products from the incubator. "Hopefully the incubator program will produce the desired results, especially for Gorontoalo Province. And inspire young designers from other cities," Poppy said at the opening of IFW, in Jakarta, Wednesday 22 February 2023.

President of Indonesia Fashion Week, Poppy Dharsono (center) giving a press statement after the opening of Indonesia Fashion Week, in Jakarta, Tuesday 22 February 2023.

Head of Dekranasda Gorontalo Province, Gamaria Purnamawati Monoarfa, said she was proud that Gorontalo's traditional literature was introduced to a wide audience at the IFW event. He added that the Indonesian Fashion Designers and Entrepreneurs Association or APPMI team provided special training for karawo embroidery craftsmen. "They train designers to improve designs and mix and match colors to change the mindset of craftsmen who happen to be self-taught designers so that they can perform well under APPMI's guidance," he said during a press conference.

Gamaria added that the Gorontalo embroidery technique had existed since 1600. "However, it had experienced suspended animation, in 1960 it began to triumph again, but it was almost extinct. The Gorontalo government started preserving this embroidery since 2011," he added. Karawo embroidery is made by hand with a long and complicated process. After drawing the design, slicing the material, removing the thread and then embroidering and tying it.

IFW 2023 appears fresher and more up-to-date. Even so, the identity as a fashion week that promotes Indonesian culture is still upheld by IFW in every event. As many as 300 designers participated in a series of fashion shows that were held from 22 to 26 February 2023. In a day there are 3-4 fashion shows, press conferences, trunk shows, and talk shows. One of the highlights is Gorontalo designer, Agus Lahinta, and as many as 15 designers from Gorontalo will also appear at the closing.

"In our tenth year, we are happy because IFW has positioned itself to be a place for designers in the regions and is also working with Dekrasnada to brand, improve quality, provide a market for regional designers and creative industries in the area, which are generally MSMEs," added Poppy.