Press Release
Published on December 21, 2022

Introducing Sustainable Practices in Fashion


On 3 December 2022, as part of its technical assistance component in the UN Joint Programme “Accelerating SDGs investment in Indonesia”, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) supported participation of project beneficiaries at the Lombok Sumbawa Tenun Festival 2022.

With this intervention UNIDO has been supporting SMEs in traditional textile, jewellery and handicraft industries enabling them to gain wider access to local and external markets through a comprehensive industrial modernization. These efforts will lead to improved financial situation, productivity and business performance laying the foundation for stronger linkages with the tourism sector and raising their profile in terms of eligibility to apply for innovative finance schemes, such as SDG-linked and green loans.

A pilot upgrading initiative focused on introducing sustainable practices in the textile and jewellery production sectors. The pilot group of local SMEs learned about the multifaceted benefits of using locally sourced raw materials, natural fibres, and alternative eco-friendly materials, which also served as inspiration for a new collection of fashion accessories and home décor.

The Lombok Sumbawa Tenun Festival provided the opportunity to showcase a new collection of home décor and accessories developed based on sustainable production concepts and centuries-old weaving traditions of Lombok island.

The Festival, held by the National Regional Craft Council (Dekranasda) and the provincial government of West Nusa Tenggara, is the biggest fashion-related event in the region that annually attracts hundreds of industry specialists from different corners of Indonesia. This year, 16 collections of fashion designers from West Nusa Tenggara, Jakarta, Bali, and North Kalimantan were showcased.

With UNIDO’s support and good practices that have been introduced in Indonesia, the participation of local producers from Lombok is expected to contribute to wider understanding and adoption of sustainable fashion practices and the use of locally available raw materials in textile and jewellery production. This sustainability-oriented practical experience and know-how are expected to result in the production of authentic, sustainable and market-oriented products that meet international quality requirements and customer expectations worldwide.

 

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