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THE REGIONAL National Crafts Council (Dekranasda) of East Nusa Tenggara has prepared shirts made of West Manggarai weaving to be worn by 11 ASEAN heads of state during the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara.
“I have prepared it, sent it to the State Palace, from MSMEs in Lembor District, and the President himself chooses which head of state wears which color, he himself chooses,” said Chairperson of the NTT Provincial Dekranasda, Julie Sutrisno Laiskodat in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, Thursday (4/27), 2023.
The NTT Provincial Dekranasda has prepared 12 pairs of woven fabrics to be used as shirts and used by 11 ASEAN heads of state and the ASEAN Secretary General.
The motif used in the West Manggarai weaving is the mata manuk (chicken eye) motif woven by weavers from Lembor District. For the color and model of the woven fabric, Julie said, it was chosen directly by President Joko Widodo.
Furthermore, the NTT Provincial Dekranasda prepared a shawl that will be used by the spouses of heads of state or First Ladies in the Spouse Program. The color and model of the shawl used later were chosen by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo.
In accordance with the direction of President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo, she continued, the woven fabric that will be used later is soft and not hot.
As Chairperson of the NTT Provincial Dekranasda, Julie expressed pride that typical woven products of NTT, especially West Manggarai, were prepared to be used by heads of state and spouses on one of the days of activities.
She wants the use of woven products to be a promotional event for weaving intellectual property that has historical and cultural values that deserve the appreciation of all parties.
Thus, the people of West Manggarai can be proud when the heads of state wear woven shirts with the mata manuk motif. “We must be proud that our products are used by the ASEAN heads of state later,” he concluded. [sources/photo special]
