As an effort to preserve culture, Pendopo, the Kawan Lama Group business brand which is home to local MSMEs and has collaborated with more than 200 MSMEs in the archipelago under the auspices of PT ACE Hardware Indonesia Tbk, started a MSME coaching and training program for Textiles and Apparel in Buleleng Regency, Bali. Through collaboration with the Buleleng Regency Government, the program which is planned to be held until the end of this year was opened at the Buleleng Regency Integrated Business Service Center (PLUT) building on Tuesday, June 6 2023.
Tasya Widya Krisnadi, Director of Pendopo, said, “In particular, we chose Buleleng Regency because it has high potential for the fashion industry. With various trainings on utilizing Balinese woven fabrics into ready-to-wear fashion products, supported by opening market access through the Pendopo, we are sure that the competitiveness of Buleleng textile and clothing MSMEs will increase.”
It is planned that Pendopo will conduct a series of online and offline trainings until the end of the year, with a focus on improving design and sewing skills. This includes encouraging sustainable fashion by maximizing the use of fabrics through the manufacture of derivative products using leftover fabrics. This training is intended for dozens of local tailors, housewives, as well as students.
This training was carried out through Pendopo's strategic collaboration with the Buleleng Regency Government, local designers, MSME empowerment foundations, and the Buleleng people. Furthermore, the results of the training will be curated and marketed through the Hall at the end of 2023.
Paramita Lihadnyana, Head of Dekranasda Buleleng Regency, said, "Hopefully the knowledge and experience gained through this training can improve the welfare of the participants. We also hope that this training can inspire housewives and other members of the community to be involved in developing the extraordinary potential of textile and clothing MSMEs in Buleleng Regency."
According to BPS data for Buleleng Regency, the textile, clothing and leather industries are the type of industry with the second largest investment value in Buleleng Regency after the food, beverage and tobacco industries. In addition, in terms of the SME business sector, the industrial sector has experienced rapid growth from 2018 to 2022, even more than doubling.
Drs. Dewa Made Sudiarta, M.Sc, Head of the Buleleng Regency Trade, Industry and Cooperative Office, added, "We very much welcome and appreciate the initiative from the Pendopo team, and hope that this program can improve the Buleleng Regency's economy. We hope that the synergy between the designers, centers of weaving craftsmen, and the tailors involved can produce superior products that are truly competitive."
Previously, from 2021 to 2022, Pendopo had also held a mentoring and training program for the Sikka ikat community in Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. As a result, there has been an increase in income, an increase in the number of weavers, as well as the independence of the weaving groups in transferring knowledge armed with modules from the Pendopo. Apart from that, Pendopo is also expanding the Sikka Ikat market through collaboration with local designers.
“The ultimate goal of a mentoring program is of course to achieve community independence. To achieve this, there are several indicators, starting from increasing the number of jobs, increasing income, as well as opening market access. After being quite successful in increasing income and realizing self-sufficiency in Sikka Regency last year, we hope that this program can achieve similar success or even surpass it," concluded Tasya.
