Deeply rooted in Indonesia’s cultural heritage, the traditional textile sector faces numerous challenges notably when competing against mass-produced textiles. This struggle is further compounded by a dwindling number of artisans, with younger generations showing little interest in the labor-intensive methods of traditional weaving.
“Nowadays, fewer young girls are interested in learning how to produce weavings due to the lengthy production time, which can take 15 to 30 days to produce a piece of fabric depending on the types of motifs and yarns used”, says Senirawati, owner of Seni Kreatif.
In addition, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) face notable environmental and social challenges, especially in promoting circular economy principles and driving forward gender equality initiatives.
As part of the UN Joint Programme ‘Accelerating SDGs Investment in Indonesia (ASSIST)’, which was funded by the Joint SDG Fund, UNIDO helped bolster local entrepreneurship while empowering women and youth as well as environmental stewardship. Through tailored assistance programmes and strategic interventions, UNIDO fostered job creation, inclusivity, and sustainable socio-economic development.
With over 500 women weavers in Lombok, Seni Kreatif also benefitted from UNIDO’s support, which led to improvements in product design, quality, and market appeal. Moreover, UNIDO guided the company in exploring alternative eco-friendly fibers as well as addressing challenges in accessing raw materials sustainably.
“With support from UNIDO, this new initiative paved the way for our business expansion under the MyNyale brand”, said Senirawati.
“Weaving with water hyacinth and plastic waste enabled us to produce 4 meters of fabric in just 2-3 days, a stark comparison to the 2-3 weeks needed for cotton weaving. This could substantially boost our production capacities in a shorter timeframe”.
This efficiency translated into increased production capacities and incomes for the women weavers, thereby contributing to their economic empowerment. Seni Kreatif’s success story underscores the potential for sustainable and community-centered development, serving as inspiration for female entrepreneurs in traditional sectors.
For more information, please contact: ccm [at] unido.org (Office of Communications, Conferences and Media Relations).
Originally published by UNIDO.
Note:
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
