Dekranas Chair: Natural Dyes Can Boost the Value of TTU Woven Textiles
The Executive Chair of the National Crafts Council (Dekrit Nasional/Dekranas), Tri Tito Karnavian, has urged weavers in North Central Timor (TTU) Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), to continue innovating through the use of natural dyes. This step is considered capable of increasing the added value of woven products while opening opportunities for wider markets, both nationally and internationally.
Tri made these remarks during the opening of the Natural Dyeing and Yarn Dyeing Training for Woven Fabrics at the TTU Regency Dekranasda Building on Thursday, 25 June 2026. The activity is part of an effort by Dekranas, alongside Working Group II of the Central Family Empowerment and Welfare Movement (TP PKK), to strengthen artisan capacity and develop regional crafts.
Tri stated that weaving is a cultural identity with high economic value. Therefore, artisans need to continuously develop their creativity so that the resulting products can meet market demands without abandoning regional characteristics.
“We hope for a wider market, nationally and even internationally. We can reach this through improvements in creation and competitiveness, which includes the use of these natural dyes,” he said.
In addition to improving product quality, the use of natural dyes is also seen as being in line with global trends that increasingly focus on aspects of sustainability and environmental preservation.
“With natural dyeing, we are supporting environmental preservation by utilising organic, eco-friendly materials,” he added.
Tri further noted that several regions in NTT have successfully developed weaving based on natural dyes, gaining recognition in international markets. This experience is expected to serve as an inspiration for TTU artisans to continuously improve product quality while strengthening the regional identity of the weaving.
He expressed hope that the results of the training would not stop at the learning process but could be applied in daily production and promoted at various exhibitions, including the Dekranas Anniversary celebrations to be held in Makassar.
“Hopefully, the results will be marketed there and receive a positive response,” he said.
On this occasion, support equipment for the training and yarn as raw material for weavers were also distributed. This assistance is the result of support from the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), Dekranas, and cooperation with Bank Indonesia.