Students Of SMKN 12 Surabaya Collaborate To Take Advantage Of Shoe Waste To Become Merchandise

SURABAYA - A number of students of SMKN 12 in the city of Surabaya, East Java, have succeeded in collaborating with well-known companies in utilizing leather shoe waste into merchandise or souvenirs in the form of key hangers.

Head of Competency for Skin Crafts, SMKN 12 Firmansyah, said that before mass-producing merchandise, his party had applied for an example of a key hanger to a leather shoe company.

"Cooperation in the form of making this merchandise is the first. There are 18 out of 31 students in this project involved. They are from grade 11," said Firmansyah.

Firmansyah appreciated the move by leather shoe company Jim Joker who had entrusted his students with it.

Because for this department, he said, cooperation with brands (brands) is well known in the production of goods which are all carried out at the school for the first time.

"This project involves 18 of the 31 class XI students. The total amount of beef skin waste donated is 40 feet or about 12 meters. Then 200 merchandise products are processed in the form of key hangers," said Firman.

In order to make this order a success, he said, initially the students made several prototypes (examples) to be submitted to the shoe company team. After the form is agreed, the raw materials are accepted by students.

Furthermore, the work process is carried out in schools starting from the cutting process using a press pound tool, adjusting using a set machine to ensure the thickness can be one size, to the embedding of materials.

Then marking the stitches to make the sewing lane and thinning the edges of the skin (bevelling). As well as finishing (final refinement) with a high print process that gives the effect of appearing for brand writing (emboss).

"The work time is actually relatively fast. For the cut process, for example, 100 products can be completed in one day. So if two types of products can be 2-3 days for the cut process," said Firman.

Jim Joker's marketing manager, Samuel Adidharma Lukito, said this collaboration was carried out to address the large number of pieces of beef skin waste that were no longer used.

"From the remaining production, we found a lot of waste that cannot be used to produce footwear anymore. Then we thought how that small cut could be converted into merchandise and value," he said.

According to him, the involvement of students in the ganci project (key hanging) made from real beef skin is a form of the company's concern for the skills and creativity of young people.

According to Samuel, this collaboration with the school was the first time it had been carried out by his party. Later, the work of the students will be used as a grand fashion event.

"We will distribute the key points of work by students of SMK 12 Surabaya to visitors who come to our stalls," he said.

The choice of SMKN 12 Surabaya as a partner that is trusted is also not without consideration. According to him, students in the department are able to make merchandise according to the specified quality standards.

"The consideration is because we are looking for a capable person. In addition, we also have a CSR program. So why don't we give it to SMKN," said Samuel.

Therefore, he said, it did not close the door to cooperate further with the school students. Especially in making merchandise products such as ganci (key hungs), wallets, bags, and so on.