Pedan's fabrics attract foreign buyers<\/p>\n
By Kartika Bagus C.<\/p>\n
SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): While machine-made fabrics
\ndominate the garment industry, traditionally made woven fabric
\nfrom Pedan in Klaten, Central Java, is still treasured by both
\nlocal and foreign consumers.<\/p>\n
For a long time, Pedan, which is located 1.5 hours drive west
\nof Surakarta, has long been known as the center of Java's woven
\nfabric industry.<\/p>\n
The economic crisis, which forced some businesses to close
\ndown, did not affect Pedan's woven textile industry.<\/p>\n
One businessman, Rachmad, 68, said the crisis did not reduce
\ndemands for his products since almost all of his buyers were from
\nabroad. And his buyers did not bother to bargain, he added.<\/p>\n
\"So if the prices of materials increase, we simply hike the
\nfabric price,\" said the man who has been in the business for 40
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Thanks to his flourishing business, the man now has three
\nsimilar businesses and employs 150 workers. He also has two
\nshowrooms to display his finished products -- one in Pedan and
\nthe other in Bali. In November this year, he is planning to open
\na showroom in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The history of Pedan's industry began during the era of Dutch
\ncolonization. Then, the industry was controlled by three
\nbrothers, Suhadi, Wiryo Sudiro and Sumarno. The most famous
\nfabric at that time was Kapas and this was mostly sold in
\ntraditional markets.<\/p>\n
However, during the war in 1940, Pedan's industries went
\nbankrupt and all of the workers, who had to earn a living for
\ntheir families, set up business of their own.<\/p>\n
Only in 1950 did Pedan's industry start to grow again. Then,
\nhundreds of businessmen enjoyed a glorious business climate as
\nfabric for clothing was the most sought-after basic need.
\nUnfortunately, with the high demand, many weavers neglected the
\nquality of the woven fabrics they created.<\/p>\n
The most desired motifs then were Kijing Miring, Riding
\nPutung, Mbang Sembukan, Sodho Sak Ler, Tumbar Pecah, Ketan Ireng
\nand Dom Lecer. But in line with market demand, those motifs were
\nrarely produced by the weavers but were replaced by new motifs
\nwhich were dominated by either horizontal or vertical lines.<\/p>\n
The glory days of this traditional industry only lasted for
\neight years.<\/p>\n
\"Many companies collapsed because they could not compete with
\nmachinery,\" Rachmad recalled.<\/p>\n
It was not until the 1980s that the traditional woven industry
\nin Pedan started to develop again amid the presence of machine-
\nmade woven fabrics.<\/p>\n
Rachmad insisted that the handmade woven fabric was superior
\nin quality compared to that produced by machine.<\/p>\n
He admitted that the handmade process made it impossible to
\nproduce large quantities of the product since it took a long time
\nto finish one hand-woven fabric. However, the result is
\nexclusive, and most of his clients keep on coming back to the
\nvillage, he added.<\/p>\n
\"They keep coming because they cannot find products such as
\nthose produced by Pendan's weavers in textile shops,\" said the
\nfather of three.<\/p>\n
Despite its simplicity, some 9,000 meters of woven fabric can
\nbe produced in a month through the handmade process.<\/p>\n
Raw materials needed to produce woven fabric are cotton, or
\nlinen and natural fibers. Some 181 kg of materials are required
\nmonthly, which is worth around Rp 160 million, while the monthly
\nturnover is more than Rp 90 million.<\/p>\n
There are three kinds of products created: fabrics for
\ngarments, interior and exterior decorations, such as various
\nsizes of pillow cases, shawls, lace curtains and table cloths. It
\nis the fabric for garments that makes up the bulk of the material
\nproduced.<\/p>\n
Prices for the products are varied. For instance, a shawl
\nmight cost between Rp 10,000 and Rp 50,000 each. Other products
\ncan cost hundreds of thousands rupiah each.<\/p>\n
In producing woven fabrics, Rachmad also experimented with the
\nuse of assorted natural fibers, such as fragrant grass, water
\nhyacinth and pineapple fiber, to satisfy his customers. He also
\nintroduced natural dyes instead of chemical ones.<\/p>\n
Rachmad said that his foreign buyers prefer the natural dying
\nprocess. To create the natural coloring, he experiments with such
\nthings as mahogany bark for brown colors and papaya leaves for
\ngreen.<\/p>\n
His products are sold across the country while his foreign
\nbuyers come from Australia, Britain, France, Italy, Japan, New
\nZealand, Singapore and the United States.<\/p>\n
In marketing his products, Rachmad mostly relies on word of
\nmouth. However, he also provides his products to big hotels.<\/p>\n
Although his products have gained popularity here and abroad,
\nRachmad has restrained from exporting his products on a big scale
\nsimply to rake in more profit. \"I will not do it (export on a big
\nscale) to maintain the products' exclusivity and assure client
\nsatisfaction.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pedans-fabrics-attract-foreign-buyers-1447893297",
"image": ""
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