East Java's bamboo handicrafts go global<\/p>\n
By Singgir Kartana<\/p>\n
BANYUWANGI, East Java (JP): To many villagers, bamboo is only
\nuseful for the making of simple household items such as baskets
\nwhile for others bamboo is a preferred source of firewood.<\/p>\n
But in creative hands, like those of the villagers of
\nGintangan -- a village located about 17 kms to the south of
\nBanyuwangi in East Java, bamboo can be turned into various
\nhandicrafts which are frequently capable of fetching high prices.<\/p>\n
For the past five years, Gintangan village has earned a
\nreputation as a center for bamboo handicrafts, the only one in
\nBanyuwangi.<\/p>\n
At least 200 families are involved in the handicraft business
\nin the village, the home of at least 10 bamboo handicraft
\ncenters.<\/p>\n
\"This handicraft business is practically the 'soul' of the
\nvillage because around 60 percent of the villagers earn their
\nliving from it,\" said 51-year-old Waras, one of the village's
\nhandicraft entrepreneurs, who now employs some 40 people.<\/p>\n
The business started in Gintangan around 1990 and it was
\npioneered by Waras. His success encouraged other villagers to
\nfollow in his footsteps. Within just three years, more handicraft
\ncenters had appeared and the number has steadily increased since
\nthen, partially as a result of soft-loans provided by the state
\nelectricity company PLN and state forestry company Perhutani in
\nearly 1997.<\/p>\n
Today, Gintangan village is home to a flourishing bamboo
\nhandicraft business as witnessed not only by the increasing
\nnumber of handicraft centers, but also the business's high
\nturnover which is valued at over Rp 200 million per month.<\/p>\n
For the villagers, the handicraft business has become one of
\ntheir most important sources of income besides agriculture. A
\nworker in the business can earn between Rp 6,000 and Rp 10,000 a
\nday, depending on his or her experience and skills.<\/p>\n
Gintangan's handicraft products may be considered to be at the
\nexclusive end of the market with their refined workmanship,
\nartistic design and wide range.<\/p>\n
Most of the products are sold as souvenirs or decorative items
\nas opposed to useful household items. For instance, the upper
\npart of a round cake box is crafted in the form of lotus flower
\npetals. The box's plaitwork is highly refined and artistic,
\nmaking it more appropriate as a decorative feature in a hotel
\nthan as a simple container for a cake.<\/p>\n
Other bamboo handicrafts no less interesting as they come in a
\nmultitude of sizes, shapes and colors, such as candy boxes,
\nnewspaper and magazine racks, miniature houses, jewelry boxes and
\nbedside lamps.<\/p>\n
These items are sold at very reasonable prices of between Rp
\n5,000 and Rp 50,000.<\/p>\n
According to Waras, a round cake container measuring 20 cm in
\ndiameter and 10 cm in height is the hottest selling item.<\/p>\n
However, not every variety of bamboo can be employed to make
\nsuch beautiful mementos. Only the apus (yellowish), wulung
\n(blackish) and tutul (yellow with black spots) varieties are
\nconsidered suitable for the production of handicrafts. For
\nplaited work, only apus bamboo is suitable due to its fine
\nfibers, which are stronger and more durable when compared to
\nother varieties of bamboo.<\/p>\n
apus bamboo is not expensive. Instead, it can easily be
\nobtained from the village's surrounding areas at a price of Rp
\n1,000 per two bamboo stems.<\/p>\n
\"The apus bamboo is not very susceptible to attack by mites.
\nBut to make it stronger, you can submerge it in water before
\nusing it,\" said Buang Wariyono, a 30-year-old craftsman, who has
\nnow started a similar business in Denpasar, Bali.<\/p>\n
These bamboo products are marketed not only in Indonesia, but
\nalso abroad. The main markets for the handicrafts include
\nBandung, Jakarta and Bali and reach as far afield as Australia,
\nBelgium, Canada, Holland, Korea, Singapore and the United States.<\/p>\n
And as part of the effort to expand their market, Gintangan's
\nhandicraft entrepreneurs have actively participated in numerous
\nexhibitions and are constantly distributing promotional
\nliterature. Some are now even using the Internet to promote their
\nproducts.<\/p>\n
However, the village's businessmen tend to concentrate more on
\ntheir products rather than improving their facilities, such as
\nshowrooms. Most of them are also still dependent on direct
\nselling and wait for the customers to come. As a result, whenever
\nthey receive a large order, they find themselves forced to rush
\nin order to meet the deadline.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/east-javas-bamboo-handicrafts-go-global-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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