Latest news with #IFW
The Star
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Reviving Indonesia's textile heritage at country's fashion week in Jakarta
JAKARTA (Bernama-Xinhua): Models strutted down the runway of Indonesia Fashion Week (IFW) 2025, transforming into living canvases that showcased the rich heritage of the archipelago through meaningful garments, under dazzling lights and resonant musical rhythms. The country's largest fashion event takes place from May 28 to June 1 in Jakarta, featuring works from over 200 designers and tenants from across the archipelago, alongside fashion shows, exhibitions, talk shows, and creative forums to support a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable fashion ecosystem. Designers from Armenia and a guest designer from Malaysia also took part in this vibrant celebration of cultural fashion. One of the highlights of IFW 2025 was the collection by Essy Masita from Yogyakarta, titled "Timeless Tradition." Her pieces blended lurik textiles from Yogyakarta and Central Java with other Indonesian heritage fabrics such as handweaving (tenun) Badui from Banten, hand-drawn batik from Java, ulos from North Sumatra's Batak culture, and tenun Sumba from East Nusa Tenggara-all reimagined in contemporary urban silhouettes. A standout look featured a tenun Sumba-based dress paired with a long lurik outerwear adorned with original tenun fringe-an ensemble rich in both aesthetics and meaning. To Essy, traditional Indonesian textiles (wastra) are more than just material -- it is a medium of storytelling and cultural identity. "I want younger generations to wear wastra with pride, not just during traditional ceremonies, but in their everyday lives," she told Xinhua. Since 2000, Essy has been dedicated to bringing wastra into the fashion spotlight, working directly with local weaving communities to ensure an ethical supply chain that empowers women. She recently showcased her collection at fashion weeks in Australia, following appearances in London, Milan, and Paris. Another standout designer was Yuni Pohan from North Sumatra with her collection "Melayu Megapolitan," which featured 11 looks blending the traditional Deli Malay kebaya and songket from Medan with megamendung batik motifs, floral patterns, bamboo shoot designs, and delicate embroidery. Yuni chooses to work with wastra because she believes that behind every motif lies a philosophy of life. "Batik and Malay songket are not just beautiful. They tell stories about humanity's connection with nature, about love and struggle. For example, the bamboo shoot motif symbolises hope, fertility, and humility," she explained. The presence of designers like Essy and Yuni proves that Indonesian wastra continues to evolve, no longer confined to traditional wardrobes, but stepping onto the global runway as a symbol of identity and contemporary expression. Poppy Dharsono, chairwoman of the Indonesian Fashion Designers and Entrepreneurs Association (APPMI) and president of Indonesia Fashion Week 2025, emphasised that Indonesia's heritage is rich with diverse textiles and adornments from hundreds of ethnic groups, from Acehnese songket and Lampung's tapis to Javanese and Balinese batik, and Papuan handweaving. She stressed that wastra is a living cultural identity that continues to grow within Indonesia's fashion industry, with each motif and technique reflecting deep-rooted philosophies and local wisdom. "Fashion is more than appearance. It is a form of cultural expression and identity. Indonesian wastra is more than fabric, it is a living heritage continuously developed by creative designers," said Poppy. Through Indonesia Fashion Week, she hopes traditional textiles will become a main source of inspiration for world-class modern fashion, while also grounding cultural values within the global fashion industry. - Bernama-Xinhua
Malaysia Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Malaysia Sun
Feature: Reviving Indonesia's textile heritage at fashion week
by Hayati Nupus JAKARTA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Models strutted down the runway of Indonesia Fashion Week (IFW) 2025, transforming into living canvases that showcased the rich heritage of the archipelago through meaningful garments, under dazzling lights and resonant musical rhythms. The country's largest fashion event takes place from May 28 to June 1 in Jakarta, featuring works from over 200 designers and tenants from across the archipelago, alongside fashion shows, exhibitions, talk shows, and creative forums to support a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable fashion ecosystem. Designers from Armenia and a guest designer from Malaysia also took part in this vibrant celebration of cultural fashion. One of the highlights of IFW 2025 was the collection by Essy Masita from Yogyakarta, titled "Timeless Tradition." Her pieces blended lurik textiles from Yogyakarta and Central Java with other Indonesian heritage fabrics such as handweaving (tenun) Badui from Banten, hand-drawn batik from Java, ulos from North Sumatra's Batak culture, and tenun Sumba from East Nusa Tenggara-all reimagined in contemporary urban silhouettes. A standout look featured a tenun Sumba-based dress paired with a long lurik outerwear adorned with original tenun fringe-an ensemble rich in both aesthetics and meaning. To Essy, traditional Indonesian textiles (wastra) are more than just material -- it is a medium of storytelling and cultural identity. "I want younger generations to wear wastra with pride, not just during traditional ceremonies, but in their everyday lives," she told Xinhua. Since 2000, Essy has been dedicated to bringing wastra into the fashion spotlight, working directly with local weaving communities to ensure an ethical supply chain that empowers women. She recently showcased her collection at fashion weeks in Australia, following appearances in London, Milan, and Paris. Another standout designer was Yuni Pohan from North Sumatra with her collection "Melayu Megapolitan," which featured 11 looks blending the traditional Deli Malay kebaya and songket from Medan with megamendung batik motifs, floral patterns, bamboo shoot designs, and delicate embroidery. Yuni chooses to work with wastra because she believes that behind every motif lies a philosophy of life. "Batik and Malay songket are not just beautiful. They tell stories about humanity's connection with nature, about love and struggle. For example, the bamboo shoot motif symbolizes hope, fertility, and humility," she explained. The presence of designers like Essy and Yuni proves that Indonesian wastra continues to evolve, no longer confined to traditional wardrobes, but stepping onto the global runway as a symbol of identity and contemporary expression. Poppy Dharsono, chairwoman of the Indonesian Fashion Designers and Entrepreneurs Association (APPMI) and president of Indonesia Fashion Week 2025, emphasized that Indonesia's heritage is rich with diverse textiles and adornments from hundreds of ethnic groups, from Acehnese songket and Lampung's tapis to Javanese and Balinese batik, and Papuan handweaving. She stressed that wastra is a living cultural identity that continues to grow within Indonesia's fashion industry, with each motif and technique reflecting deep-rooted philosophies and local wisdom. "Fashion is more than appearance. It is a form of cultural expression and identity. Indonesian wastra is more than fabric, it is a living heritage continuously developed by creative designers," said Poppy. Through Indonesia Fashion Week, she hopes traditional textiles will become a main source of inspiration for world-class modern fashion, while also grounding cultural values within the global fashion industry.
Barnama
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Barnama
Reviving Indonesia's Textile Heritage At Fashion Week
JAKARTA, May 30 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Models strutted down the runway of Indonesia Fashion Week (IFW) 2025, transforming into living canvases that showcased the rich heritage of the archipelago through meaningful garments, under dazzling lights and resonant musical rhythms. The country's largest fashion event, reported Xinhua, takes place from May 28 to June 1 in Jakarta, featuring works from over 200 designers and tenants from across the archipelago, alongside fashion shows, exhibitions, talk shows, and creative forums to support a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable fashion ecosystem. Designers from Armenia and a guest designer from Malaysia also took part in this vibrant celebration of cultural fashion. bootstrap slideshow One of the highlights of IFW 2025 was the collection by Essy Masita from Yogyakarta, titled "Timeless Tradition." Her pieces blended lurik textiles from Yogyakarta and Central Java with other Indonesian heritage fabrics such as handweaving (tenun) Badui from Banten, hand-drawn batik from Java, ulos from North Sumatra's Batak culture, and tenun Sumba from East Nusa Tenggara-all reimagined in contemporary urban silhouettes. A standout look featured a tenun Sumba-based dress paired with a long lurik outerwear adorned with original tenun fringe-an ensemble rich in both aesthetics and meaning. To Essy, traditional Indonesian textiles (wastra) are more than just material -- it is a medium of storytelling and cultural identity. "I want younger generations to wear wastra with pride, not just during traditional ceremonies, but in their everyday lives," she told Xinhua. Since 2000, Essy has been dedicated to bringing wastra into the fashion spotlight, working directly with local weaving communities to ensure an ethical supply chain that empowers women. She recently showcased her collection at fashion weeks in Australia, following appearances in London, Milan, and Paris. Another standout designer was Yuni Pohan from North Sumatra with her collection "Melayu Megapolitan," which featured 11 looks blending the traditional Deli Malay kebaya and songket from Medan with megamendung batik motifs, floral patterns, bamboo shoot designs, and delicate embroidery. Yuni chooses to work with wastra because she believes that behind every motif lies a philosophy of life.
Khaleej Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Istanbul Fintech Week 2025 to host 3,000+ global experts shaping the future of finance this June
Istanbul Fintech Week (IFW) is fast becoming a must-attend event on the global fintech calendar. Now in its sixth edition, the summit will take place on June 11–12, 2025, under the theme 'Redefining the Future of Finance with AI and Web3.' Demet Zübeyiroğlu, co-founder of event organiser KOOP Ventures, emphasises the event's consistent mission since its launch in 2019: to bridge fragmented yet complementary fintech ecosystems across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. 'We've already hosted over 14,000 professionals from more than 60 countries. Thanks to Istanbul's strategic location, we're able to offer one of the most inclusive and regionally relevant fintech gatherings in the EMEA region,' she says. Backing this ambition with data, fintech investment across EMEA is projected to surpass $18 billion in 2024. Türkiye alone is home to more than 700 active fintech startups and boasts a digital payments volume exceeding $194 million. Zübeyiroğlu notes that this combination of scale and momentum positions Türkiye as both a proving ground and a launchpad for cross-border fintech expansion. 'IFW provides a unique dual lens — insight into a rapidly growing market and access to global fintech thought leadership. Participants leave with both localized knowledge and international perspective,' she adds. The 2025 edition will feature three flagship summits: Digital Finance, AI in Finance, and Web3, each exploring transformative technologies in capital markets, payments, and banking infrastructure. Complementary tracks such as Women in Fintech, TradeTech, and Fintech for Businesses underscore IFW's commitment to diversity and actionable innovation. In addition to keynote panels, exclusive C-suite roundtables will tackle issues like regulatory alignment, while country-specific briefings will shed light on rapidly evolving fintech markets from the GCC to Sub-Saharan Africa. A highlight of the event is the start-up showcase in partnership with Fintech Factory, where founders will pitch to venture capitalists scouting the next breakthrough in embedded finance. Within the 'Fintech for Businesses' track, focused panels will delve into practical applications of financial technology — one session, titled 'Fintech in Agriculture – Transforming Agribusiness,' will explore how digital payments, insurtech, and blockchain are being used to enhance financial inclusion, improve access to financing, and streamline agricultural supply chains. Another session, 'Fintech in Retail – The Evolution of Payments & Commerce,' will examine the growing influence of BNPL, digital wallets, embedded finance, and the transformative role of AI and data analytics in reshaping the retail financial landscape. IFW 2025 will feature an impressive lineup of global experts, including Ronit Ghose, Future of Finance Lead at Citi and author of Future Money; Theodosia Togia, Managing Director of AI/ML at JPMorgan Chase; Christine Abou Assali, Partner and Policy & Regulations Lead at the MENA Fintech Association; and Kieran Garvey, AI Research Lead at the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance. Notable voices from the start-up world, such as Peter Grosskopf (COO, AllUnity) and Julie Barbier-Leblan (CEO, Merit Incentives), will also be part of the discussions. Additionally, the conference will feature prominent Turkish economist Dr Mahfi Eğilmez as a keynote speaker. As part of the event, the Pioneers of Digital Finance awards, organised by KPMG will return to honor leading banks and fintech firms across categories like Visionary Bank and Financial Inclusion Champion. Finalists have until May 16 to submit their entries, with winners announced live on the IFW main stage. Shaping the future of fintech While AI, digital finance, and Web3 remain the dominant themes, Zübeyiroğlu believes the true power of IFW lies in its ability to foster collaboration. 'It's a launchpad for next-gen ideas, bold cross-border partnerships, and inclusive innovation strategies,' she says. With its unique mix of global scope and regional depth, IFW 2025 is set to accelerate fintech progress in the region while reinforcing Istanbul's role as a prototype hub for the future of finance.
Technical.ly
19-05-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
Honeycomb Credit secures nearly $6M and lands new investors
A Pittsburgh-based fintech platform is building on previous momentum, raising over $5 million after a recent acquisition. Startup Honeycomb Credit secured $5.89 million in fresh capital, according to a Form D filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last week. The funding comes partially from several new social equity or environmental impact-focused investors in its funding round that started back in November 2022. 'I am happy to share that, in addition to a larger number of existing investors, the round includes several new investors,' cofounder and CEO Cook told 'including Upstart Co-Lab, Spring Point Partners and the New Community Transformation Fund.' Cook declined to comment on the size or specifics of the raise since the round is still open, but the filing shows $11.47 million has been raised since the round legally began about two and a half years ago. Of that total, $5.89 million is new capital, while $5.58 million comes from convertible securities, meaning earlier investments were converted into equity as part of this funding round rather than bringing in new cash. The new funding follows an acquisition by Honeycomb in April of fellow crowdfunding startup IFundWomen (IFW) for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition, which brought IFW founder Karen Cahn and five employees to Honeycomb, aimed to create a central online hub where even the earliest-stage businesses could access capital, coaching and community support from Honeycomb, Cook previously told Alongside the acquisition, an SEC filing in early April showed the company had raised around $760,000 toward a $3 million goal. At the time, Cook said the funds would help integrate IFW team members and support tech investments as Honeycomb expanded its services to small businesses nationwide. He said the company expected to close the round by month's end. A platform to help other startups reach their goals Founded in 2017 by Cook and cofounder Ken Martin out of firsthand frustration with the traditional lending system, Honeycomb provides a crowdfunding platform that allows everyday investors to support local businesses nationwide through debt-based financing. The crowdfunding platform has grown as a local fundraising force, with some of the biggest quarterly raises in Pittsburgh in recent years. The company has also helped fund over 400 businesses nationally, including 90 in the Pittsburgh region. For example, it's helped sustainability startup Ecotone Renewables raise over $80,000 and healthtech company Korion Health raise over $105,000. 'Instead of putting in $100 and getting a t-shirt or thank you note,' cofounder Cook told in 2019, 'someone can actually invest a hundred or a thousand dollars or more into a locally owned business, helping them grow while at the same time, earning a competitive rate on the investment.'
