Monday, 12-10-26
Mills is the Official Apparel Partner of Team Indonesia for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where its sportswear is part of a collaboration with Sarinah and Ghea Fashion Studio.
The apparel combines modern sportswear with elements of Nusantara textiles and traditional art.
Sarinah serves as the design curator, while Indonesian designer Ghea Panggabean brings the cultural direction through Ghea Fashion Studio. Mills translates the designs into apparel made for athletes and competition.
For Mills, the Asian Games role comes after years of building its name in Indonesian sportswear. The brand has developed through its work with the national football team, overseas sports partnerships, exports, and retail expansion.
Mills Brings Nusantara Design to Team Indonesia
The Team Indonesia apparel features Gorga and Limar as key visual elements.
Gorga is a traditional Toba carving associated with strength and protection. In the apparel, the motif represents courage, mental resilience, and spiritual harmony.
Limar is a textile motif from South Sumatra that represents honor, excellence, and nobility. Its colors and gradients represent athletes from different backgrounds coming together under one Indonesian contingent and a shared goal.
The collection carries the message, “Woven by Hope. Strengthened by the Same Spirit. Carrying Indonesia in Every Step.”
The collaboration also marks 45 years of Ghea Panggabean's dedication to Nusantara textiles. It is her first move into sportswear.
Ghea said designing apparel for national sports ambassadors was an honor. She wanted the athletes to feel strong, confident, and proud of their Nusantara identity.
Mills CEO Tjia Kong Hou said the collaboration combines design with the performance needs of athletes. Chief de Mission Todotua Pasaribu also said the apparel should support athletes and make them proud.
NOC Indonesia Chair Raja Sapta Oktohari described the apparel as more than clothing, saying it serves as a medium for Indonesian identity on the international sports stage.
Behind this Asian Games partnership is a sportswear company that has spent years developing its position in Indonesia. Mills was not created solely for the Asian Games. Its journey began several years earlier, including through one of the country's biggest sporting platforms: the national football team.
From Timnas Indonesia to a Wider Sportswear Business
Mills was established in 2018 under PT Mitra Kreasi Garmen Ltd. The company, however, has more than 20 years of experience in the garment industry.
The brand produces sports products including jerseys, shoes, jackets, goalkeeper gloves, hats, bags, socks, and tumblers for men and women.
Mills also emphasizes innovation, scientific research, and collaboration with athletes in developing its products.
Its profile in Indonesian football grew after Mills became the Official Apparel of the Indonesian national football team in 2020, replacing Nike.
The brand produced national-team jersey series in 2020 and 2022. Its first 2020 jersey received negative public comments, which Mills used as feedback to improve its next jersey. The 2022 jersey received a more positive response.
The partnership with PSSI eventually ended. Mills entered the 2023 tender to supply the national team again but lost to Erigo's Erspo.
The end of that partnership did not mark the end of Mills' expansion efforts. The company continued developing opportunities beyond Indonesian football, including partnerships and business activities in overseas markets.
Mills Takes Its Sportswear Overseas
Mills became an apparel partner of English football club Tranmere Rovers in 2021, with the partnership continuing through the 2023–24 season.
The company also developed limited-edition products through collaborations with DC Comics and Warner Bros.
Its international expansion continued in 2024. Mills began opening its market in Russia and was preparing negotiations with a Russian club that had previously played in the Champions League to produce jerseys.
The company also recorded its first export to Eastern Europe in April 2024, mainly involving football and futsal shoes.
The export was expected to support further expansion into overseas markets and increase recognition of Mills products.
These international activities were accompanied by continued efforts to build the brand in Indonesia. While Mills explored overseas opportunities, it also expanded its physical retail presence and worked with sports communities and federations at home.
Retail Expansion Builds Mills’ Domestic Presence
In July 2025, Mills opened its ninth concept store, bringing its total number of stores in Indonesia to 12.
The Rawamangun concept store has two floors. The first focuses on sports and lifestyle shoes, while the second offers sports equipment, including football jerseys, futsal clothing, and exclusive ambassador collections featuring Marc Klok, Sandy Walsh, ONIC, and Bayu Saptaji.
Mills was also targeting expansion to 30 provinces across Indonesia and preparing an international retail network.
The company described its offline retail expansion as an initial step before entering the global market.
Its activities also extended into international competition. Mills sent its racing team to an international marathon in Sydney as part of its expansion into global competition.
In Indonesia, the brand has partnerships with sports federations including athletics, climbing, and padel.
These developments form the broader path behind Mills' role at the Asian Games. From its position in Indonesian football to overseas partnerships, exports, and retail expansion, the brand is now supplying apparel for Team Indonesia on one of Asia's largest sporting stages.
This article is a summary of two original articles. The full versions can be read at the following links:
https://megapolitan.antaranews.com/berita/413741/mills-targetkan-ekspansi-ke-30-provinsi
https://www.antaranews.com/berita/4045260/jenama-mills-lakukan-ekspor-perdana-ke-eropa-timur
PHOTO:
This article was created with AI assistance.
We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our content, some information may be incorrect or outdated. Please let us know of any corrections at [email protected].
Read More