Jember, August 3, 2024 – PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero), in collaboration with the Pupuk Indonesia Employee Wives Association (PIKA-PI), participated in the 2024 Jember Fashion Carnaval (JFC) by showcasing 22 artwear pieces made from fertilizer sacks in Jember, East Java, on Saturday (August 3, 2024). This event was an effort by the company to introduce the creative works of Pupuk Indonesia Group's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to both national and international audiences.

Tata Rahmad Pribadi, Chairwoman of PIKA-PI Group, stated that Pupuk Indonesia, along with PIKA-PI, is committed to promoting their fostered SMEs, particularly those involved in traditional textiles (wastra) rich in cultural significance, to elevate their status and reach international markets. One of their strategies is actively participating in international events, such as JFC, which has been running for over two decades.

"We see that the products from Pupuk Indonesia's fostered SMEs are excellent and have the potential to shine on national and international stages. Our participation in JFC 2024 is part of our joint effort to help SMEs expand their market reach. We know that JFC is one of Indonesia's icons on the international stage and is listed among the 'Top 10' flagship events of the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2024 by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy," Tata said.

She added that 30 percent of the materials used in all the showcased artwear were made from fertilizer sacks produced by Pupuk Indonesia Group. The symbolic use of these materials also represents support for the sustainability of the agricultural industry. The entire collection of artwear was created in collaboration with two renowned designers, Temma Prasetio and Maya Ratih.

Furthermore, Tata explained that Pupuk Indonesia's participation in showcasing 22 artwear pieces at the Jember Fashion Carnaval is a stepping stone toward more prestigious events, such as the Jakarta Fashion Week (JFW) 2025. Previously, Pupuk Indonesia also introduced its SMEs' products through the "Pesona Kriya Pupuk Indonesia 2024" event.

In addition, Pupuk Indonesia is actively developing SMEs by enhancing their competencies, enabling them to produce competitive products at both national and global levels. The company also supports SMEs by involving them in various exhibitions, particularly those on a global scale.

"The partnership between Pupuk Indonesia and SMEs aims to create a sustainable ecosystem and boost the economy and independence of SMEs, especially women entrepreneurs. We believe that every work produced by SMEs has the potential to create a positive impact. The works displayed reflect the diversity of culture, tradition, and creativity that merge into extraordinary collections by Indonesian designers and SME artisans," Tata concluded.

Besides domestic participants, the JFC 2024 also welcomed 136 participants from Japan, who voluntarily participated. In addition to showcasing their arts, Japan also presented traditional fireworks and expressed interest in learning about Jember's culture and cuisine to bring back to Japan.