From Jakarta to London Fashion Week – 1001 Shoes Steps Onto the Global Stage

There are moments at London Fashion Week that feel less like a seasonal showcase and more like history unfolding. This September, one such moment arrived when Indonesia’s premier footwear brand, 1001 Shoes, unveiled its first international collaboration in the heart of Spitalfields. Partnering with acclaimed Vietnamese designer Tran Hung, the brand’s arrival was less of a debut and more of a statement of intent.

For years, 1001 Shoes has dominated retail shelves across Indonesia with a promise that women should never have to compromise between style and comfort. It is a philosophy that feels refreshingly straightforward, yet deceptively hard to execute in a market that often sacrifices one for the other. At London Fashion Week, that ethos found a stage worthy of its ambition.

Tran Hung’s collection, a sweeping series titled Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring, unfolded like a meditation on the cycles of nature. Flowing silks, delicate embroidery and a palette that captured both the quiet melancholy of autumn and the restless brightness of spring set the tone. It was into this world that 1001 Shoes introduced 53 meticulously crafted designs. Each pair felt less like an accessory and more like an extension of the story, footwear that grounded the garments without pulling them back to earth.

What makes this collaboration striking is not just the aesthetic harmony but the cultural meeting it represents. From Hanoi to Jakarta, the partnership weaves together two Southeast Asian powerhouses of design and craftsmanship. For 1001 Shoes, it is also a bold step away from the safe success of retail into the rarefied air of runway fashion. The brand’s journey from shop floor to Spitalfields runway symbolises a shift that many heritage labels aspire to but few accomplish with such impact.

The philosophy behind 1001 remains central. Every shoe was designed to look beautiful, to be undeniably alluring, but without the hidden tax of discomfort. It is a vision that insists women should feel confident in every step, whether striding into an office or walking a runway under the unforgiving lights of London Fashion Week. That confidence is stitched into the brand’s DNA, and here it was amplified on an international stage.

Adding another layer of symbolism were Coco Huillet and Amazara, two emerging Indonesian models who are also the daughters of the 1001 Officiel brand. Their presence felt like a generational baton pass, a merging of legacy and innovation. Watching them walk alongside Tran Hung’s designs was not simply a show of glamour but a reminder of how heritage evolves when it is allowed to breathe with new ideas.

For London, a city that thrives on the unexpected, the arrival of 1001 Shoes felt timely. The capital’s fashion week has long been a magnet for international voices, yet the presence of a leading Indonesian footwear house marked a rare and welcome addition to the global conversation. It was proof that the narratives shaping fashion are no longer confined to the predictable centres of Paris, Milan, or New York.

As the final looks closed the show, there was a sense that something had shifted. 1001 Shoes had not just launched a collection, they had announced a new era for the brand. The collaboration with Tran Hung was a creative partnership, yes, but it was also a statement that Indonesian design deserves a seat at fashion’s most prestigious table. From the intricate detailing of each heel to the architectural precision of each sole, the shoes captured the essence of what London Fashion Week is meant to be – an exploration of style, culture and possibility.

At seven o’clock on a cool September evening, Spitalfields played host to more than just another show. It became the site of a transition, a leap from retail success to designer relevance. For 1001 Shoes, the message was clear. This was not just a debut. It was the beginning of a global chapter, one that will carry the spirit of Indonesian craftsmanship far beyond Jakarta and onto the world’s runways.

London Fashion Week is often about the next big thing, but sometimes it is about recognising the arrival of something that was always inevitable. With Tran Hung’s artistry and 1001’s uncompromising philosophy, this was one of those moments. A reminder that the world of fashion, like the seasons themselves, is always ready for renewal.