In an industry where creativity meets technology, the future of fashion is no longer shaped in isolation, it is built through collaboration, innovation, and deep understanding of the entire ecosystem. This is the perspective that ESMOD Jakarta (Politeknik Kreatif Indonesia) continues to instill in its students, most recently through its active participation in Indo Intertex & Inatex 2026.

Held as one of the region’s most comprehensive textile and garment exhibitions, the event brought together global industry players, showcasing advancements across the entire value chain, from sustainable machinery and eco-friendly materials to recycling innovations, energy-efficient solutions, and AI-driven systems accelerating the digital transformation of fashion.

Rather than positioning learning solely within campus walls, ESMOD Jakarta brought its students directly into the heart of the industry. Semester 2 and Semester 4 students participated in curated field visits, where they explored both Indo Intertex, which focused on production technologies and machinery, and Inatex, which highlighted textile materials essential to fashion creation. A dedicated section, “Build Your Brand,” further connected students to the entrepreneurial side of the industry, bridging creativity with business realities.

More than observation, this was about immersion—understanding how ideas evolve into products through a network of expertise.

Beyond student engagement, ESMOD Jakarta’s presence extended into broader industry discourse through an educational seminar in collaboration with The Textile Map.

Titled “Educating the Public on the Importance of Textile Knowledge for Fashion Designers and Creative Industry Practitioners,” the session reflected a key belief: that textile literacy is not only essential for designers, but fundamental to building a more informed and sustainable creative industry.

Tatang Khalid Mawardi, Textile Lecturer and Head of Research & Community Engagement, emphasized that understanding materials, techniques, and processes is critical not only for design quality, but for long-term industry sustainability.

From an academic standpoint, Stella Budiarjo, Head of the Fashion Design Program, highlighted how textile knowledge enables deeper experimentation, evident in student works that push boundaries by incorporating unconventional materials such as gypsum and acrylic.

Meanwhile, Marco Sianturi, Head of the Creative Business Program, expanded the conversation beyond fashion, reinforcing that design thinking and research-driven processes play a vital role across the broader creative economy—accelerating innovation, product development, and business growth.

Moderated by Mega Saffira, Chief Editor of The Textile Map, the discussion brought together these perspectives into a unified narrative: that education, when connected to real industry ecosystems, becomes a driver of meaningful change.

As part of this collaboration, ESMOD Jakarta co-presented a mini exhibition titled “Beyond the Pattern.” This showcase featured selected student works that translated textile knowledge into tangible, innovative creations, demonstrating how technical understanding can evolve into creative expression. More importantly, it highlighted the role of education in shaping not just skilled graduates, but future contributors to the creative industry.

ESMOD Jakarta’s participation in Indo Intertex & Inatex 2026 reflects a broader commitment: to contribute not only to education, but to the advancement of the fashion and textile industry itself.

By connecting students with real-world industry players, fostering dialogue on textile literacy, and encouraging innovation through experimentation, ESMOD Jakarta plays an active role in strengthening the ecosystem, supporting a new generation that is both creatively driven and industry-ready.

In doing so, the campus goes beyond preparing designers or entrepreneurs. It shapes individuals who understand the complexity of the industry, who can adapt to its evolution, and who are equipped to make meaningful contributions both locally and globally.