Bali and the rest of Indonesia are facing challenging times during Covid. Tourist makes up a large part of the economy and while travel has ceased, many people have no work. Indonesia does not have a stimulus package that reaches the pockets of people so joblessness means hard times.
Tradisi closed our door for two months and uploaded all our products to our website. We offered 20% on all our stock in the hope of keeping families of our staff, weavers and batik makers going. We are still buying textiles where we can and from people most in need.
The Togetherness Project
The Togetherness Project is a fundraising team supporting local village initiatives around Bali with the following aims: ❤️ Feeding those most in need with food staples and cooked food. ❤️ Revitalisation of Ikat weaving for income and purpose. ❤️ Creating opportunities for coffee to be grown, roasted, and sold. ❤️ COMING SOON: Creating jobs by hiring tree planters and farmers.
While there are a number of organisations we could choose to support we chose this one because it is managed and run locally plus the village of Pesalakan is revitalising their cottage weaving industry, a truly good outcome from hard times.
❤️ Revitalization of Ikat weaving for income and purpose.
Made Astawa, the Banjar leader, identified employment creation as a first priority. David Melcalf (international co-odinator of the project) had heard a story some time back that one of the weavers of Pejeng Kangin used to make handwoven silk and cotton brocade for the daughter of Suharto (President of Indonesia 1967-1998).
He went on a hunt and did indeed meet the master weaver, Ibu Agung and also discovered Ibu Klemik and Apel Murtini. It turns out there was not just one, but three very gifted and talented weavers in the village. There was agreement that the women would share their weaving skills and knowledge with other women in the village and teaching would commence that week. Those old looms reappeared from hidden corners and saw the light of day, yet again.
Once the word went out, a number of local women immediately showed an interest. With the help of the donations, extra looms were acquired, and the women bought cotton and silk thread at the Klungkung Markets.
Just two weeks later, Pejeng Kangin had re-established its weaving cottage industry. Twelve women are now clacking away on their looms in the village six days a week.
Article published in Bali Now about this project…
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