They've formed a consortium to promote the style internationally, and said this would create more jobs and help the economy of the world's most populous Muslim nation.
Over the last two decades, more Muslim women in Indonesia have made the Islamic attire a part of their dress code.
The style, which used to be worn only at religious events has now found its way to the fashion runway.
Meanwhile, Indonesian designers are trying to define what Islamic fashion means.
Indonesia Islamic Fashion Fair fashion designer & chairman Taruna Kusmayadi said: "(To me, it means clothes) that cover (the wearer) totally (except the face). (The clothes will cover the feet but not the hands).
"(We then incorporate) texture, colours, (and) different kinds of fabric (to the clothes)."
Thirty-one designers have come together to form the Indonesia Islamic Fashion Consortium.
They believe Islamic fashion is the key for Indonesia to get a bigger slice of the global fashion industry, which is estimated to be worth US$1.7 trillion.
Indonesia Islamic Fashion Consortium strategic director Gilarsi W Setijono said the problem with Islamic Fashion was there was too much attachment to the Islamic community.
"It is not being exposed to the universal kinds of fashion."
Young designers like Indonesia Islamic fashion designer Dian Pelangi are trail blazers for Islamic fashion.
She keeps to Indonesian fabric designs but her creations have a more universal appeal.
"I want to show that Muslim (apparel is not just a dress). There're so (many) models, there's so much silhouette, there's so much colours that we can add to the Muslim fashion," she said.
Young designers have given themselves 10 years to make their dream of turning Indonesia into an Islamic fashion capital come true.
The designers and fashion houses here realised they need to go international if Indonesia wants to be the Islamic Fashion Capital.
But there's not enough incentives for them to do so now.
The huge and lucrative Indonesia's domestic market is currently the focus of their business.
Source : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southeastasia/view/1080884/1/.html - Sept 13, 2010
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