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JAKARTA Fashion Week (JFW), in collaboration with the Tourism, Ministry, the Indonesian Heritage Agency (IHA), the National Museum, Adhvan Media, and ASA, presents “Waves of Weave”—a cultural exhibition showcasing a collection of traditional textiles (wastra) from 10 Southeast Asian countries, alongside a presentation of the kebaya from five nations in the region. The exhibition held from October 26, 2026, to January 8, 2027, at the National Museum in Jakarta.
The concept behind “Waves of Weave” stems from the role of traditional textiles as a cultural thread connecting the Southeast Asian region. Transcending geographical boundaries, these textiles capture the identity of each nation through a variety of techniques, motifs, and materials—all of which have been inherited and continuously developed across generations.
Centered on the theme of Southeast Asian textiles, “Waves of Weave” features three key highlights across two exhibition spaces, celebrating the richness of textile traditions and the personal meanings woven into them.
Kebaya — Dedicated to the kebaya, a traditional garment that links Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. In 2024, UNESCO inscribed ‘Kebaya: Knowledge, Skills, Traditions and Practices’ onto the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, following a joint nomination by these five nations.
Through a collection of historical kebaya displayed in this space, visitors are invited to explore shared traditional roots while discovering the diverse ways in which the garment is expressed through the distinct styles of each country.
Southeast Asian Textiles (Wastra) — This section brings together a collection of traditional textiles from Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Thailand, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam.
Presented through an immersive installation, this collection bridges historical textiles with more contemporary creations, while… …a diversity of techniques, artisanal skills, historical backgrounds, and cultural exchanges that have helped shape textile traditions across the Southeast Asian region.
According to Widiyanti Putri Wardhani, the Minister of Tourism, the SEAWAVES initiative highlights the vital role of culture in strengthening ties between nations. By bringing together embassies, designers, cultural heritage preservation institutions, collectors, and cultural communities, fashion helps reinforce how Southeast Asia perceives its own regional identity—as well as how the region is recognized and viewed by the rest of the world.
“We hope this initiative will encourage the younger generation to discover and appreciate the richness of our textile heritage, while ensuring that the knowledge and traditions passed down through generations continue to be preserved and celebrated,” she concluded. [traveltext.id]
