ITS Campus, ITS News — In order to commemorate Kartini Day, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) held ITS Kartini Fashion Day 2026 with the theme of preserving Nusantara’s traditional culture. This activity is an effort to revive Kartini’s values of struggle through a fashion show and traditional dress parade by ITS leadership at the ITS Roundabout area, Tuesday (21/4) morning.
ITS Rector Prof Dr (HC) Ir Bambang Pramujati ST MScEng PhD stated that this activity is a new innovation in the commemoration of Kartini Day at ITS. He explained that previously, Kartini commemorations were generally only done by wearing traditional clothing. “Activities like this have never been held before. Usually, people only wear regional clothing, but now it is packaged in the form of a parade and fashion show in an open space,” he said.
The 13th ITS Rector stated that this activity is also a form of appreciation, considering that Indonesia has cultural diversity that needs to be preserved. This activity also serves as a platform to express oneself and strengthen cultural identity within the campus environment. “Even though it is not worn every day, there are certain moments where it is mandatory for us to wear traditional clothing,” he reminded.
Furthermore, Bambang hopes that this activity can inspire as well as remind of RA Kartini’s services in empowering Indonesian women to be more advanced. “The spirit of Kartini needs to continue to be revived through various activities relevant to current developments,” he added.
This activity, initiated by Unit Komunikasi Publik ITS, was attended by various campus elements, ranging from the ITS leadership including the rector, vice-rectors, institute secretary, deans, heads of bureaus, heads of units, Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) ITS, ITS partners, to students. The broad participation shows the enthusiasm of the ITS community in enlivening the Kartini Day commemoration.
The series of events began with a technical explanation of the fashion show to the participants. The explanation included the activity flow and the judging mechanism, covering outfit suitability with the theme, catwalk technique, expression, and performance creativity. This assessment aims to see how participants present the clothing confidently and in harmony with the theme.
The Kartini Parade, as the core of the event, took place lively with a route from ITS Security Post 1 to the ITS Roundabout. Participants displayed various traditional clothes from different regions in Indonesia, reflecting the cultural richness of Nusantara. This activity, held for the first time in an open area, also attracted the attention of the public passing through the ITS Roundabout area.
Bambang explained that the choice of location on the roadside was made by considering the timing to avoid disrupting traffic. Additionally, holding it in an open space is part of an effort to remind the wider community of the importance of commemorating Kartini Day. “This open-space event serves as a broadcast so that the community continues to remember Kartini in her struggle for women’s emancipation,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Chairwoman of DWP ITS Galih Kanestri Dewi Pramujati stated that the interesting atmosphere of such an activity is able to build active participation from all participants, so the event ran smoothly and with great enthusiasm. She considered this activity a positive space for togetherness for the ITS community. “Women in the ITS environment must be strong, independent Kartini figures and continue to contribute for the common benefit,” said the ITS Rector’s wife.
Through this activity, ITS hopes that the spirit of RA Kartini can continue to inspire the younger generation to work and contribute. This commemoration serves as a reminder of the importance of women’s roles in various fields of life. This is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially point 5 regarding Gender Equality and point 11 regarding Sustainable Cities and Communities. (ITS HUMAS)
Reporter: Naila Zalfa Hamidah