Magetan Bamboo Basket Craftsmen Persist by Adapting to Market Demands

Magetan (ANTARA) - Bamboo basket craftsmen in Durenan Village, Sidorejo Subdistrict, Magetan Regency, East Java, continue to persist and remain in demand by continuously innovating to follow market demands.

Local bamboo weaving basket craftsmen, Indah in Magetan, said on Sunday that to stay relevant, they are vigorously innovating and marketing their products both online through social media and offline.

“The majority here make baskets. In the past, the shapes were simple, plain boxes without variations. However, over time, the craftsmen have innovated by creating various shapes and colours,” said Mbak Indah, her affectionate nickname.

According to her, the basket crafting business has been pursued for decades. This follows in the footsteps of the women in her village who also rely on bamboo weaving for a living.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, her business actually saw an increase in orders. Baskets became the primary choice as containers for takeaway food.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, orders actually surged. That’s when innovation started to grow,” said Mbak Indah.

Increasingly diverse consumer demands have also driven design changes by the craftsmen. No longer just box-shaped, baskets now come in variations with handles, bright colours, and more appealing carry designs.

“There are also requests from consumers based on pictures they see. From there, we learn as well,” she said.

Currently, she claims to have created more than seven designs with varying levels of difficulty to attract buyers. One of the most challenging is a small basket with additional handle variations.

This is because its production requires precision and more intricate weaving details.

“Colours and models can be adjusted to buyer demands, from red, green, to combinations of attractive colours,” she said.

Regarding prices, they vary widely. Small ones are priced starting from Rp4,000 per piece. Meanwhile, large-sized or custom design baskets can be priced up to Rp20,000, depending on the shape and level of difficulty.

In a day, she can produce dozens of baskets, depending on the type. For custom orders, production is done based on demand. She doesn’t work alone; she also collects woven baskets from neighbouring villagers and then markets them.

In addition, bamboo as the main material is easily obtained. Sometimes she buys it, sometimes she harvests it herself from bamboo clumps around the village.

“The availability of this material is one reason why bamboo crafts persist in the Magetan region,” she said.

For marketing, Indah doesn’t stop at the local market; her baskets have also penetrated markets outside the area. Sales are done directly or online.

Now, with government restrictions on plastic bags, the use of baskets and bamboo woven bags is increasingly popular.

As is known, Magetan Regency is the most important centre for the bamboo weaving industry in East Java, with around 5,700 units of bamboo weaving craft businesses contributing up to 85.69 percent of the regional economy.

Many villages and wards in Magetan are known as centres for bamboo weaving craftsmen. Among them are Ringinagung Village and Nitikan Village, famous for bamboo baskets, Durenan Village famous for bamboo baskets, and many others.