East Sumba Weavers Produce Authentic and Eco Friendly Textile with Bakti BCA and WARLAMI

East Sumba, September 26, 2024 - 50 weavers from East Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), have just completed a series of ‘Pembinaan Wastra Warna Alam Sumba Timur’ (East Sumba Natural Dye Textile Development) program organized by PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA) and Indonesia Natural Dyes Association (WARLAMI). This program is a form of #BuktiBaktiBCA to empower the community to play an active role in preserving their ancestral culture by integrating BCA's commitment to the environment and social welfare in East Sumba.

These weavers have participated in an intensive training program that lasted for 6 months. They come from various regions in East Sumba, such as Kawangu Village, Watumbaka Village, Kambatatana Village, Prai Klimbatu Preparatory Village, and Wukukalara Preparatory Village. In the process, the weavers were encouraged to recognize various local plants and natural dye derivative commodities, such as pastes or powders and dyed threads, and how to apply them directly in the creation of their textile works.

BCA Corporate Communication & Social Responsibility EVP Hera F. Haryn said, “The training of weavers utilizing natural dyes from indigenous Indonesian plants, not only contributes to environmental preservation, but also improves the quality and value of woven fabrics. Therefore, Bakti BCA complements this training program with the expansion of market access by featuring their woven fabric products at BCA's strategic events. Through all these efforts, we hope that the Bakti BCA program can create a comprehensive positive impact, from cultural and environmental preservation to increasing the income of the people in East Sumba.”

Among the natural dyeing sources used in the training are the roots of the noni tree (Morinda citrifolia L.) to produce red and tarum or indigo (Indigofera tinctoria) to produce blue. Blue and red are the dominant colors in the variety of Sumba's woven fabrics.

The training received by the weavers consisted of a comprehensive series of workshops. In the initial stage, program participants mapped plants that have the potential to be a source of natural dyes. Next, they learned how to extract and process dyes directly from the mapped plants. Each stage included assignments to assess the understanding and skills they had acquired. In the final stage, participants applied natural dyes to their textiles, followed by a thorough evaluation to ensure they could produce competitively priced and high-quality naturally dyed fabrics. Not only that, trainees were also taught tips and tricks using specific methods to speed up the dyeing process.

Diana Kalara Lena, a participant of the Pembinaan Wastra Warna Alam Sumba Timur program, shared her experience after attending the training from Bakti BCA and WARLAMI, “This program has been incredibly beneficial for me, especially in providing broad insights related to the use of plants as a source of natural dyes. The way it is delivered is also easy to understand and done thoroughly, from finding the plants to their application. In addition to preserving the weaving tradition, this initiative also opens up new economic opportunities for us through eco-friendly textile products. We hope our work can fulfill the needs of the growing demand for sustainable fashion. Thank you to BCA and WARLAMI for the tremendous support,” said Diana.

Bakti BCA and WARLAMI's partnership in making a positive impact on community empowerment and environmental preservation has been ongoing since 2022. Bakti BCA together with WARLAMI organized similar training to 28 weavers from the villages of Nekemunifeto, Bisene, Biloto, Kuanfatu, Nikiniki, Tuataum, and Kuale'u in the South Central Timor Regency, NTT. In addition, Bakti BCA completed training for 15 natural dye artisans from Baduy, Kanekes Village, Lebak, Banten earlier in February.

By 2024, a total of 216 natural dyed woven fabrics will be produced from the three fostered areas (South Central Timor, Baduy, and East Sumba). BCA believes that effective community empowerment will benefit ecosystem preservation, resulting in a mutually beneficial cycle to create a better life.

“We would like to express our deep appreciation for the enthusiasm of the East Sumba weavers in joining this program. The great potential that East Sumba's people and nature have in the eco-fashion industry requires the right support in order to improve their welfare. Thanks to the collaboration between WARLAMI and BCA, we hope the knowledge provided can increase productivity while also motivating the local community to see the production of naturally dyed textiles as a positive contributor to the village’s economic independence and the environment,” said WARLAMI Chairperson, Myra Widiono.

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BCA Holds Natural Dye Weaving Training for 50 Women Weavers of East Sumba - BCA Corporate Communication & Social Responsibility EVP Hera F. Haryn delivered a speech to mark the end of the ‘Pembinaan Wastra Warna Alam Sumba Timur’ (East Sumba Natural Dye Textile Development) program for 50 weavers organized by BCA together with the Indonesian Natural Dyes Association (WARLAMI) at the Traditional House of Kambatatana Village, East Sumba, Monday (23/9). This program is a form of #BuktiBaktiBCA to empower the community to play an active role in preserving their ancestral culture by integrating BCA's commitment to the environment and social welfare in East Sumba.

Picture Information 3&4:

BCA's Bakti Commitment Brings Positive Impact to East Sumba Community and Eco-fashion Industry - Weavers from East Sumba have participated in an intensive training program that lasted for 6 months. They come from various regions in East Sumba, such as Kawangu Village, Watumbaka Village, Kambatatana Village, Prai Klimbatu Preparatory Village, and Wukukalara Preparatory Village.