Pursuing The Fashion Crafts Industry Upgrading Class, Ministry Of Industry Collaborates With Designers And Marketplaces

Illustration of fashion (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Directorate General of Small, Medium and Multifarious Industries (Directorate General of IKMA) of the Ministry of Industry held a talk show as a series of the 43rd Anniversary Celebration of the National Crafts Council (Dekranas) in Medan, North Sumatra, recently.

At the event entitled New Entrepreneurs Created, the Berkaya Craftsmen, the craftsmen had a dialogue with the speakers who went directly to the handicraft and fashion industry.

"We have held talk shows about online wastra, design, and marketing which we hope can provide inspiration and motivation to entrepreneurs and prospective Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises entrepreneurs," said Director General of Small, Medium and Multifarious Industries (Dirjen IKMA) of the Ministry of Industry Reni Yanita in Jakarta, quoted Wednesday, May 31.

The discussion discussed the increasing use of various Nusantara wastra in various handicraft and clothing products. Given its implementation in the city of Medan, the discussion also dissects the wealth of North Sumatra Ulos Weaving which has succeeded in becoming a cultural product of added value and has the potential to sell high in local and global markets.

Then, there is also a discussion of various digital marketing strategies for handicraft entrepreneurs.

Reni said that handicraft products are one of Indonesia's cultural treasures that have high artistic and aesthetic values.

According to him, handicraft products cannot be considered only as a product, but can be a reflection of expertise, beauty, and cultural uniqueness. "Criminalism is also the result of the creativity and expertise of craftsmen which are usually inherited from generation to generation in society.

The Director General of IKMA of the Ministry of Industry also said that in entrepreneurship in this field, craftsmen or product designers cannot be careless. Crafts sector entrepreneurs must understand the uniqueness of handicraft products as added value of products, are able to continue to innovate following trends, and can meet market needs so that they can be accepted in local and global markets.

"Entrepreneurs in the handicraft sector also need to strengthen business management aspects, both related to marketing (branding, promotion, and distribution of product sales), aspects of production, finance, and human resources or their craftsmen," said Reni.

Not only that, Reni also emphasized the importance of the spirit of collaboration and courage to start a business. Crafts entrepreneurs also need to support each other, so that the Indonesian handicrafts industry sector is stronger.

"Starting a handicraft business is not an easy thing, but we must have a strong determination and dare to take risks in running a business, to achieve success," he said.

One of the speakers who attended the talk show, namely the founder of Toba Tenun, Kerri Na Basaria, said that craftsmen can develop various traditional motifs according to traditional customs, but with the creation of new motifs.

"Thus, traditional wastra or cloth can be used more flexibly for various opportunities and anywhere," he explained.

Meanwhile, Tokopedia's Director of Public Policy Astri Wahyuni, who was also a resource person at the event, said that craft craftsmen and entrepreneurs must take advantage of online marketing to reach a wider market.

"Entrepreneurs can use this digital store to also tell stories about the origin of their products, either through store decorations or live shopping features," he concluded.

For your information, the national handicraft industry has great potential in improving the economic welfare of the community. Therefore, the Ministry of Industry continues to strive to boost innovation and strengthen the ecosystem of craftsmen and entrepreneurs in the field of handicrafts.

One of the steps taken is through technical guidance and discussions about the latest trends that occur in the market. Thus, it is hoped that Indonesian crafts can compete in the global market.