Klaten umbrella makers face bleak future

By Kartika Bagus C.

SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): An umbrella is usually used to protect oneself from the rain or the scorching sun, but the ones produced in Gumantar village in Klaten, Central Java are different.

Although umbrellas from the village, which is located about 45 minutes east of Yogyakarta, still provide protection against the sun on a hot day, you can't use them into the rain as they are made from paper.

These unique umbrellas mostly serve decorative purposes at certain events, such as Javanese wedding ceremonies. They are also used as accessories during dance performances, as lamp shades, or as household decorations.

Sunaryo, one of the umbrella makers in the village, explained that in order to create an umbrella, one needs bamboo for its frame. The bamboo is cut to about 40 cm in length and with a diameter of one centimeter.

Moreover, the craftsman will need kenanga wood (Cangium odoratum), for the tip of the umbrella; and melinjo wood (Gnetum gnemon), for its handle.

After the umbrella frame is ready, it is then covered with paper from cement bags measuring 1.5 meters in length and 40 cm in width. After the paper has been neatly glued to the umbrella's frame, it is then painted in basic colors such as red, green and white.

After the paint has dried, it is carefully painted with decorative motifs, such as colorful flowers.

The last phase in the production process is placing the umbrella in the sun to dry.

According to Sunaryo, he usually produces three kinds of umbrella, from a small one measuring 20 cm in width, up to a large one measuring 1.5 meters in width.

Apart from creating normal umbrellas, he also crafts temple- shaped umbrellas with each of them consisting of three or more individual umbrellas.

An ordinary umbrella is sold for about Rp 10,000, while a temple-shaped umbrella is offered for between Rp 40,000 and Rp 60,000.

"Usually, my profit is half of the price. The most important thing is I can earn a living for my family," said the father of four.

However, he added that when the umbrellas reach the distributors' hands, they could be sold for two to three times more than the price he sets.

In a week, Sunaryo, who does all the work by himself, usually finishes about 60 small- and medium-sized umbrellas. Once, he even managed to finish 2,000 umbrellas in a month.

"But I don't want to spend all of my energy only to make money, I just do what I can do," said the elementary school graduate.

Compared to the other umbrellas produced in the village, Sunaryo's works are unique since the other villagers make their umbrellas from mori, a cotton fabric usually used to create batik. And the production process for umbrellas using mori is much simpler and does not require too much time, he said.

"I have only continued in my parents' trade because none of my siblings want to," said the 40-year-old man, who has been in the business for 25 years.

The umbrella business in the village was flourishing around 1963. Then, there was a company, Pindahan Eka, which was well- known for its umbrella production. However, the company went bankrupt during political troubles of 1965.

Sunaryo's umbrellas can be found in many places, mostly in Bali, Bandung, Jakarta, Surabaya and Yogyakarta, where he sells most of his creations. He also regularly supplies his products to traders in, among other places, Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java. He claims that he once exported some of his works to Spain.

Despite the ongoing production of paper umbrellas in Klaten, Sunaryo admits that their popularity has declined. A lack of promotion and attention from the local government, he added, might further slow down the umbrella business, which has become the main source of income for most of the villagers.