From luxury couture to quirky eyewear, these fashion brands and lines prove that Indonesia is the top contender for the future fashion destination.
Indonesia is a country steeped in culture and art. Not only does it have breathtaking natural beauty, but it is also home to very impressive local fashion brands and lines whose design and quality are more than capable of standing toe-to-toe opposite the more globally known fashion houses. Furthermore, especially in recent years, these Indonesian brands have been growing in reputation and gaining recognition in the international arena as well. In this article, Indonesia Expat will provide recommendations on Indonesian fashion brands that are worth knowing and supporting, particularly among the expats in this country.
The Indonesian fashion brands are listed below in alphabetical order.
Buccheri
Despite its Italian-sounding name, Buccheri is a fashion brand launched by an Indonesian retail company (now known as PT Buccheri Indonesia) back in 1980. Over more than the past four decades, Buccheri has won the hearts of many Indonesians and positioned itself as one of the most valuable leather footwear brands in the country. Dedicated to dynamic buyers who love fashion as well as formal shoe designs, the brand has consistently focused on how to develop its footwear designs following its relatively niche market (adult men and women) and the latter’s growing taste in footwear. Currently, Buccheri encompasses an online store as well as 120 physical outlets and boutiques across Indonesia. To find out more about Buccheri, you can visit its official website at the following link: https://buccheri.com.
CAST Eyewear
Not many people are aware that this eyewear brand, whose products have been worn by the likes of Rihanna and Lady Gaga, actually originated in Indonesia. The fashion brand CAST Eyewear was launched by former Indonesian actor Fahrani Empel, focusing on eyeglass products that have successfully penetrated the international market thanks to their unique designs. The brand’s Coco Flannel Violet glasses, for example, feature handmade acetate frames as well as coated nylon lenses that ensure ultraviolet protection for its wearer. Another specs design, cheekily named Tears of Gold, utilizes metal frames and CR39-coated lenses, with the rims under both lenses designed in a ‘thick’ fashion so much so that it is as if the wearer would appear holding back actual teardrops. To find out more about CAST Eyewear, you can visit its official website at the following link: https://www.casteyewear.com.
Colorbox
Established in 1993, Colorbox is an Indonesian fashion brand that focuses on women’s clothing (including accessories) and is a part of Delamibrands: a retail group in Indonesia founded in 1979. Colorbox offers a variety of fashion collections ranging from street style to chic, with the aim of meeting the individual needs of customers in terms of style. Colorbox products are, particularly, popular among young women in the Indonesian urban scenes and its boutiques can be located overseas as well, such as in Vietnam and the Philippines. Back in June, Colorbox launched a new fashion campaign billed as “Never Just One Thing” that especially focused on adolescents; the aim was to encourage and support fashion exploration among teen girls. To find out more about Colorbox, you can visit its official website at the following link: https://colorbox.co.id.
DAMN! I Love Indonesia
Launched by Indonesian presenter and entrepreneur Daniel Mananta back in 2011, this fashion brand immediately caught the attention of the country’s most devoted fashionistas thanks to the former’s distinguished designs that typically incorporate symbols and elements representing traditions, places, national heroes, and the natural beauty of Indonesia. The brand continued making headlines back in 2021 when it was announced that DAMN! I Love Indonesia was launching 300 limited non-fungible tokens (NFT) series where the collection highlights the figure of Bung Karno (the first President of the Republic of Indonesia) and the Garuda bird, in collaboration with Indonesian NFT marketplace TokoMall. As of 2024, DAMN! I Love Indonesia marches forward with a jargon “Your patriotism never looked this good”. To find out more about DAMN! I Love Indonesia, you can visit its official website at the following link: https://www.damniloveindonesia.id.
Danjyo Hiyoji
Founded in 2009 by Indonesian fashion designer Dana Maulana, this brand focuses on the latest streetwear trends at competitive prices. Danjyo Hiyoji has consistently positioned itself as a brand that is affordable and boasts a quick and effective production line that is up to date with today’s era. The brand has also been praised by Indonesian fashionistas and younger demographics alike thanks to how its designs typically combine traditional Indonesian elements with an experimental modern style, resulting in a bold and innovative spirit. Some of the Indonesian public figures who have rocked the design of Danjyo Hiyoji are actor and model Bryan Domani, singer Tiara Andini, singer and actress Mawar de Jongh, and actor Samo Rafael. To find out more about Danjyo Hiyoji, you can visit its official website at the following link: https://danjyohiyoji.com.
Eiger
Eiger is a fashion brand that was first established in 1989 and is now engaged in the retail industry. As a fashion brand as well as clothing manufacturer, Eiger focuses on producing attires and accessories for mountain climbing, camping, and rock climbing activities. The name Eiger itself was inspired by Mount Eiger located in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland, which has a height of 3,970 metres above sea level and, to this day, remains famous for being the third most difficult mountain to climb in the world. Very recently, the brand has made headlines thanks to its collaboration with the local government to help preserve the cleanliness of Mount Kembang, Wonosobo, Central Java. Some of the Indonesian public figures who, in the past, were once appointed as the brand ambassador of Eiger were singer-songwriter and author Fiersa Besari and actor Eddy Brokoli. To find out more about Eiger, you can visit its official website at the following link: https://www.eigeradventure.com.
HARRYHALIM
Named after the Indonesian fashion designer who launched it, HARRYHALIM (the brand as well as the designer) has become a favourite among Indonesian public figures and socialites who adore Harry Halim’s signature sculptural shapes, bold cutting, and twisted take on romanticism. HARRYHALIM debuted its adventure by showing its 2012 Spring Summer collection in Paris Fashion Week, allowing Halim to make history as the first-ever Indonesian designer to be accepted to show a collection in the Paris Fashion Week calendar. Some of the fashion icons who have rocked HARRYHALIM’s luxury couture designs and/or accessories are American actor Billy Porter, American rapper Cardi B, American actor and musician Jared Leto, Chinese actor Luke Chen, Indonesian-French singer Anggun, and Iranian singer Googoosh. To find out more about HARRYHALIM, you can visit its official website at the following link: https://harryhalim.com.
IKAT Indonesia by Didiet Maulana
Established in 2011, Indonesian fashion designer Didiet Maulana, through his brand IKAT Indonesia, brings his focus to delivering humble designs that everyone can wear and appreciate. As a fashion brand, IKAT Indonesia by Didiet Maulana has consistently aimed to encapsulate as well as reinvent the ideas of how the younger Indonesian generation can preserve their magical culture through the art and the legacy of weaving. Very recently, the brand launched its latest collection dubbed “Love Letter for Wamena” at the Plaza Indonesia Men’s Fashion Week 2024. The brand also has its own sub-brand called Svarna By IKAT Indonesia which focuses on wedding and custom-made attires. To find out more about IKAT Indonesia by Didiet Maulana, you can visit its official website at the following link: https://theikatindonesia.com.
TEXSAVERIO
Launched by Indonesian fashion designer Tex Saverio, this high-fashion and luxury couture line has enjoyed enormous international recognition and become a favourite among the biggest fashion icons on the planet; some of its designs have been worn by the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, and Ayumi Hamasaki. Known for his form-fitting dresses and laser cut treatments, Saverio has recently made headlines for his recent collaboration with online marketplace Shopee to introduce luxury couture to the wider market — a collaboration known as “High-End Brands Indonesia by Shopee”. To find out more about TEXSAVERIO, you can visit the designer’s official Instagram page at the following link: https://www.instagram.com/texsaverio/.
The Executive
Focusing on formal and semi-formal attire, The Executive was first launched in 1984 under an Indonesian company PT Delami Garment Industries. Cut to the present, The Executive has now developed into a leading fashion brand available in 60 free-standing stores and more than 100 counters. Furthermore, the brand has also expanded its outlets and boutiques in countries and overseas regions like China, India, North Asia, the Middle East, Sri Lanka, and Australia. The brand’s latest seasonal campaign, dubbed “#EveryoneExecutive”, featured notable Indonesian public figures, namely actor Lukman Sardi, singer-songwriter Kunto Aji, and fashion entrepreneur Cissylia van Leeuwen. To find out more about The Executive, you can visit its official website at the following link: https://executive.co.id.