A number of models enlivened Jogja Fashion Week (JFW) 2022 which took place August 26-30 at the Jogja Expo Center (JEC), Bantul. Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono (HB) X assessed that Jogja is ready to consolidate with other parties to create a fashion industry. Sultan said JFW is one of the activities in the context of the decade of Yogyakarta privileges. Sultan hopes that this time JFW really gives a different value. "How can Jogja Fashion Week provide a different value from previous years," he said, Friday (26/8/2022).

On that occasion the Sultan shared his experience in dealing with COVID-19 until finally he tried to consolidate the existing potential so that the economy in Jogja continues to grow. From this, he is optimistic that the potential of fashion in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) is able to contribute to economic growth.

"From such conditions, we see that fashion in Yogyakarta can become a new force to contribute a certain percentage to economic growth in DIY, and also become new jobs for DIY residents," he said.

The consolidation, said Sultan, is like increasing the textile industry. The reason is that in DIY there are only a few textile industries, so they must consolidate with West Java, Central Java and East Java.

"So we are trying to consolidate this fashion, not only in terms of non-batik batik clothes but accessories, bags, shoes, we must consolidate it towards the industry in order to provide greater potential and contribution," he said.

"So we don't only sell batik products, but also non-batik products. So, our fashion space is backed up to become a fashion industry," he continued.

In fact, the Sultan has ensured that the former Mutiara Hotel building in the Malioboro area becomes a fashion center. For this reason, the Sultan requested that fashion be transformed into a fashion industry.

"From that context, we ventured to buy the former Mutiara Hotel. Starting this year we built it for 2 budget years, so we hope that in 2024 fashion must be ready because there is fashion," he said.

In addition, the Sultan hopes that in the future fashion players in Gudeg City will begin to be oriented towards the international market. Considering that in 2023 DIY will sign cooperation with foreign parties regarding fashion.

"Well, for that, we hope that our friends have a more international orientation. If you agree with me, I hope that in March (2023) we will sign a partnership with Victoria, fashion will be a breakthrough for how we learn from management to marketing with export orientation," he said

Meanwhile, Head of Disperindag DIY Syam Arjayanti said that DIY is one of the areas in Indonesia that is poor in natural resources, but rich in cultural resources. Evidence of this cultural wealth is that Jogja has a very high cultural diversity, both tangible and intangible.

"In DIY, there are many fashion SMIs scattered in various areas of DIY. Fashion is one of the elements of the creative economy, where the creative economy is a new hope for the Indonesian economy," he said.

For this reason, his party held JFW 2022 as a step to encourage the development of the creative industry sector, especially fashion products. In addition, encouraging the development of creative product designs, especially fashion in DIY.

"Because the goal of Jogja Fashion Week in 2022 is to increase marketing and expand the marketing network of creative products related to fashion. As well as increase the added value and welfare of the creative industry IKM in the fashion sector," he said.

Regardless, JFW 2022 will last for 5 days starting today. As for the fashion show starting at 19.00-21.30 WIB with a different theme every day.

Like today is modest wear, the second day is evening wear and conventional, the third day is modest wear, the fourth day is modest wear and conventional and the fifth day is mens wear and conventional.

"For the fashion show, 79 designers from DIY will participate. Later, each designer will display their 6 dresses. For the exhibition there are 100 booths and 100 fashion small and medium-sized industries (SMEs) and fashion supporters assisted by the DIY Industry and Trade Department will participate," he said.