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THE PRODUCER of Ulos woven wastra, PT Toba Tenun Sejahtra said that the traditional Batak fabric has cultural potential to high economic and social value, especially for the craftsmen.
The founder and CEO of PT Toba Tenun Sejahtra, Kerri Na Basaria, through his statement said that the popularity of Ulos is still below Batik and Sumba Ikat Tenun at the national and international level.
“Ulos is a historical cultural heritage that has a deep philosophy of life and is closely related to the daily life of the Batak people,” said Kerri.
“Recognizing the huge potential of Ulos to be marketed at national and international levels, we strive to carry out various work programs that include cultural preservation, training and education of craftsmen, as well as community and women development,” he added.
Furthermore, he said that his party is also working with training institutions and instructors to equip partonuns so that they can improve their competence, both in terms of technical and design creation.
“So that Ulos cloth is not only culturally valuable but can also have an economic and social impact, adding to the strength of Indonesia’s creative and artistic industries,” Kerri said.
Weaving cannot be separated from the role of weavers, the majority of whom are women. Partonun (weaver) women are the main human resources to produce quality weaving.
According to Kerri, Partonun is a cultural guardian who works for the preservation of cultural heritage, maintains the life philosophy of the Batak people, as well as traditional skills.
Traditional weaving is one of those fields where valuable knowledge is passed down from mothers to their daughters from generation to generation.
And today, this traditional weaving sector survives thanks to a dynamic generation of young Indonesian women, who combine artistic creativity with business skills.
Kerri said that his party consistently empowers Partonun to be able to increase their potential and skills so that they can be stronger in maintaining, inheriting and preserving Ulos which are of high quality and have a meaningful philosophy.
In addition to facilitating partonuns to take part in various training and education, there is also support and assistance through Jabu Bonang as well as providing solutions to partonuns who have many challenges in the field such as lack of access to raw materials, complicated marketing, to cases of Domestic Violence (KDRT). which is often experienced by the partonuns.
Until the end of 2021 and at the same time welcoming National Mother’s Day, PT Toba Tenun Sejahtra will carry out a series of activities to increase public awareness of the heritage of the archipelago’s wastra fabrics, especially weaving and the artisan ecosystem involved behind it which is dominated by women. [antaranews]
