Interview with Budiman Ong
As Jia CURATED enters its 2025 edition, the program has evolved in structure and scope. What has remained constant throughout, and what would you consider non-negotiable as the event continues to grow?
Budiman Ong, Jia Curated co-founder: Jia CURATED grew organically out of our experience with Jia COLLECTIVE, a retail space in Canggu. Over two years, it evolved into a platform featuring over forty brands, reflecting the momentum behind Indonesia’s design and craft movement. We saw a clear demand for high-quality handmade products with meaningful stories, and Jia CURATED was born in response to this.
We continue to seek designers with a strong identity, producing original, handcrafted pieces, who remain connected to their roots. These are the sensibilities we look for.
We gather brands, designers, artisans, and manufacturers in a shared space, encouraging collaboration through common narratives. This spirit also carries into how we work with the pavilions. It reflects the essence of Indonesia, embodying Gotong Royong, the principle of collective effort and cooperation toward a common goal. That remains our strongest pillar.