NBF 2025 promotes Ngawi batik, Fort van den Bosch

The Ngawi Regency, through its Tourism, Youth, and Sports Agency (Disparpora), organized the 2025 Ngawi Batik Fashion (NBF) on Oct. 4, 2025. It is part of the Tourism Ministry's Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) program for 2025.

NBF's inclusion in the KEN calendar of cultural festivals was a significant achievement for Ngawi batik's position on the national stage.

The event was attended by figures from various regions, including Madiun Regent Hari Wuryanto, Madiun Mayor Maidi, Blora Regency Regional Secretary Komang Gede Irawadi, Pacitan Deputy Regent Gagarin, and representatives from Bojonegoro.

Also in attendance was Miss Indonesia Education and Culture 2024 Melati Tedja, who represented the Tourism Ministry's support for the development of the creative economy in Ngawi.

With "Culture in Harmony" as its theme, NBF 2025 presented a spectacular blend of fashion and culture encompassing a variety of exciting activities.

They include a Ngawi batik fashion show, a batik exhibition, a batik fashion competition, designer and batik workshops, as well as a creative economy bazaar featuring local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The event also combined tourism promotion for Fort van den Bosch, a leading tourist destination in Ngawi Regency. Its selection as the main location for the event was a strategic step in promoting local tourism potential.

This event showcased batik fashion and served as a meeting place for creative industry players, designers, and the youth to further the development of local batik.

Ngawi Regent Ony Anwar Harsono stated that Fort van den Bosch has its own unique appeal worthy of national promotion.

"We want batik and tourism to grow together through NBF. Fort van den Bosch must become a tourism icon that elevates Ngawi's reputation on the national stage," he said.

Ony emphasized that NBF 2025 represented a concrete manifestation of Ngawi Regency Disparpora's commitment to promoting the development of Ngawi batik, both in terms of quality and quantity.

The local government continues to facilitate artisans so they can compete nationally while maintaining the distinctive motifs of Ngawi batik.

Through the event, the Ngawi Regency Government hopes that batik wil be a source of pride and a pillar of the community's economy. NBF 2025 also serves as a learning and creative platform for vocational high school fashion design students in Ngawi, encouraging them to deepen their appreciation for the region's cultural heritage.

"Batik is not just a patterned fabric, but also a [local] identity and pride. We want the youth to continue preserving Ngawi batik and making it part of their modern lifestyle," Ony concluded.

The local government and community are optimistic that Ngawi batik will be increasingly recognized as a cultural heritage capable of competing in the national fashion industry with NBF 2025's inclusion in KEN 2025.