Tanimbar woven cloth is back<\/p>\n
As security returns to normal in Maluku after years of bloody
\nsectarian violence, there has slowly been a business revival as
\ncompanies reopen their doors. This revival has included the
\nTanimbar cloth weaving industry, which was devastated by the
\nconflict. Fien Masela, the owner of a Tanimbar weaving company,
\nshared her experiences in building up her business with The
\nJakarta Post's Azis Tunny. This is the second story on Tanimbar
\ncloth, with the first story having appeared on Friday.<\/p>\n
Fien Masela runs the small fabric weaving company Lusila, which
\nshe started with just Rp 900,000 (about US$90). Employing 70
\nweavers, the company has a monthly turnover of between Rp 6
\nmillion and Rp 12 million.<\/p>\n
That amount might not seem significant, but Fien has been able
\nto create job opportunities for dozens of people in the area.<\/p>\n
She said the company's turnover was nominal because sales were
\nstill limited to civil servants and officials. The sectarian
\nconflict between 1999 and 2002 in Ambon had a devastating effect
\non the tourist sector, which in turn nearly destroyed the
\ntraditional woven cloth industry.<\/p>\n
Fien was inspired to start her business during a fund-raising
\nevent to build a church in her hometown of South Tanimbar in West
\nSoutheast Maluku regency in 1996. During the event, residents
\ndonated pieces of traditional woven cloth, or ikat, to raise
\nfunds.<\/p>\n
So with start-up capital of Rp 900,000 from her family, Fien
\nestablished Lusila.<\/p>\n
\"I became seriously involved in the business in 1998, after my
\nparents' retired from the company. It would have really thrived
\nif not for the conflict, because many foreign tourists were
\ninterested in woven fabric. After the violence began, sales
\nslumped because tourists were not allowed to visit Ambon,\" Fien
\ntold The Jakarta Post recently at her boutique in Ambon.<\/p>\n
Now, as security in Maluku improves, the woven cloth industry
\nhas begun to thrive and Fien now has 70 employees working at her
\nworkshops in Tanimbar and Ambon. Although most of her employees
\nwork in Tanimbar, she concentrates her business in Ambon. She
\nsaid the great thing about the business was that it allowed her
\nto preserve local culture while at the same time creating jobs
\nfor the community.<\/p>\n
Fien provides the weavers with all the materials they need,
\nsuch as yarn and dyes, and pays them after they have produced the
\ncloth.<\/p>\n
She gets her supplies from Surabaya, where there is always a
\nready supply of raw materials.<\/p>\n
\"I am concerned we would be unable to meet large purchase
\norders if our supplies were insufficient, and raw materials are
\nhard to find in Maluku,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Tanimbar ikat has frequently represented Maluku in
\nexhibitions, both locally and nationally. In addition to orders
\nand direct purchases, Lusila also works in cooperation with a
\nboutique in Jakarta, though demand in the capital remains limited
\nand orders only come in every three months.<\/p>\n
She said it was normal for ikat sales to fluctuate, adding
\nthat sales were really good in certain months when there were
\nmore foreign tourists in Ambon.<\/p>\n
\"A significant number of tourists visit Ambon from June to
\nSeptember, while the low season is in March and April. The peak
\nseason coincides with the holiday season, during which various
\ncelebrations are held in Ambon, such as the Ambon city
\nanniversary and the Maluku Protestant Church celebration when
\nmany tourists from Europe arrive, especially from the
\nNetherlands,\" said Fien.<\/p>\n
Fien is now exploring possibilities in the Netherlands by
\nestablishing business ties with a Dutch businessman of Maluku
\ndescent who visited Ambon recently.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tanimbar-woven-cloth-is-back-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}