Jokowi's 'magic' Is Still Felt, Baduy Fashion Craftsmen Are Overwhelmed To Fulfill Buyer Requests

President Jokowi (photo: documentation of the MPR/DPR/DPD Annual Session)

BANTEN - Baduy fashion makers in the interior of Lebak Regency, Banten Province are unable to serve market demand which has increased by up to 100 percent.

"In the last two months, demand has increased, from 10 points to 20 per month," said Husen, a Bedouin fashion designer in Ciboleger, Lebak Regency, Antara, Thursday, October 7. The demand increased, he said, after President Joko Widodo wore the traditional Baduy attire at the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on August 16, 2021.

Baduy clothing products that are in demand include shirts, kampret pants and headbands or lomar. According to him, the price of Bedouin clothing products depends on the quality, but the average is around Rp. 1.5 million per kodi. One code consists of 20 pieces. If you manage to sell up to 20 coins, you can generate an income of IDR 30 million. "We are unable to meet the increasing demand due to limited manpower and capital," he said.

Another Baduy fashion designer, Ambu Silvi, said that he can now sell up to 15 pieces of woven fabric products from the previous three pieces per week. The production of woven cloth is sold between Rp. 120,000 to Rp. 130 thousand per piece.

"We are currently able to generate up to Rp. 1.6 million per month," he said. Kudil, a Bedouin clothing trader, admitted that currently consumer demand tends to increase, and some orders even come from the province of Bali.

During that time, he said, tourists visiting Baduy settlements also started to get crowded.

"We are now able to generate income of up to Rp15 million from previously relatively small," said Kudil.

Meanwhile, the Baduy Indigenous Elder who is also the Head of Kanekes Village, Lebak Regency, Jaro Saija, said that currently the activities of Bedouin artisans and clothing traders are excited again, and the wheels of the economy are starting to turn.

Before the pandemic, tourist visits to Baduy settlements were usually crowded on weekends, but during the pandemic it fell sharply, and began to rise in the last two months, although it has not recovered as before the COVID-19 pandemic.