Dekranas Chair: Natural Dyes Can Boost the Value of TTU Woven Textiles

The Daily Chair of the National Crafts Council (Dekranas), Tri Tito Karnavian, is encouraging weavers in North Central Timor Regency (TTU), East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), to continue innovating through the use of natural dyes. The move is considered capable of increasing the added value of woven products whilst opening up wider market opportunities, both nationally and internationally. Tri conveyed this whilst opening a Training on Natural Dyeing and Yarn Dyeing for Woven Fabrics at the TTU Regency Dekranasda Building on Thursday, 25 June 2026. The activity is part of an effort by Dekranas together with Working Group II of the Central Family Empowerment and Welfare (PKK) Driving Team to strengthen the capacity of artisans and develop regional crafts. Tri stated that weaving is a cultural identity with high economic value. Therefore, artisans need to continue developing their creativity so that the products produced can keep up with market demands without losing the region’s distinctive characteristics. “We hope for a wider market, national, even international. We can reach it through increased creativity and competitiveness, which includes making these natural dyes,” she said. Besides improving product quality, the use of natural dyes is also considered to be in line with global trends that are increasingly paying attention to aspects of sustainability and environmental conservation. “With this natural dyeing, we are supporting environmental conservation by utilising organic materials, environmentally friendly materials,” she said. Tri added that a number of regions in NTT have successfully developed naturally dyed weaving to the point of being recognised in the international market. This experience is expected to serve as inspiration for TTU artisans to continue improving product quality whilst strengthening the identity of regional weaving. She hopes the results of the training will not stop at the learning process but can be applied in daily production and promoted at various exhibitions, including the commemoration of Dekranas’ Anniversary to be held in Makassar. “Hopefully, the results will be marketed there and will receive a good reception,” she said. On that occasion, supporting training equipment and yarn as raw materials were also handed over to the weavers. The assistance was the result of support from the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), Dekranas, and cooperation with Bank Indonesia.