Hyacinth turns a Yogyakartan into millionaire

By Kartika Bagus C.

YOGYAKARTA (JP): If you think that water hyacinths are useless, you are dead wrong. Baruna, a 40-year-old Yogyakartan has become a millionaire thanks to his use of the plant.

Unlike most people, Baruna doesn't treat hyacinths like rubbish simply because they cause siltation in lakes, reservoirs and swamps.

No, he makes them into fashionable sandals instead.

The venture has become a highly profitable business that earns him a lot of money.

He exports the products to a number of countries. His mansion at Gowok area is much envied by those in the neighborhood.

The idea for his business came after Baruna grew increasingly annoyed with the poor quality of hyacinth sandals. Something told him he could make fashionable footwear from the same materials, so he started the business.

"My starting capital was enough for me to make 100 pairs of sandals costing Rp 25,000 per pair," he said in his two-storey house which also serves as a showroom.

"The biggest order came from Bali when I had only a few artisans. The delivery was several weeks behind schedule," he recalled.

Now with eight permanent workers, the company can make 100 pairs of sandals every day.

Baruna has also rented a house in the southern district of Bantul.

Aside from the eight permanent workers, Baruna also employs contract workers who earn between Rp 6,000 and Rp 8,000 a day. They were recruited mostly from the neighborhood.

The hyacinth, the main raw material of the product, is imported from Surabaya at Rp 4,000 per kilogram.

"Hyacinths from Surabaya are of high quality. They have long stalks," Baruna said.

Other materials used in making the product are agel, a type of tall grass that is spun into string.

It is bought in the western district of Kulonprogo for Rp 18,000 and Rp 22,000 per kilogram.

The production process involves simple technology. According to Baruna, perseverance is the key to success, especially for those doing the plaiting.

He needs about 1,000 kilograms of hyacinths a month for the making of the sandals. For every ton of the flower about 200 kilograms of agel and pandanus leaves are required as supplementary materials.

"The price of the rubber that we use to make the soles fluctuates," he said.

Bali, Bandung and Jakarta are his main markets for the products. They are also exported to France, Canada, Germany and Hungary.

The profit margin is about 20 of the price per unit.

"It's not bad, and I am happy that I can make something people enjoy."

His unique designs have tempted some to try and imitate them, so he is planning to patent his product with the brand name Yog because that's where they're made, in Yogyakarta.

The hyacinth sandals are not water resistant so they should be worn only in dry places.

Aside from hyacinth sandals, Baruna also makes bags, dolls, ceramics, hats and sculptures from recycled materials.

The waste-based business has turned out to be fairly profitable. A small doll sells between Rp 15,000 and Rp 25,000.

Hyacinth sandals are a new product and are gaining in popularity.

If it continues growing into a souvenir industry, it could become one of Yogyakarta's specialties.