ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The Grand Final of the 2024 Indonesian Men and Women’s Weaving and Songket (PPTSI) Election was successfully held at the Grand Ball Room of the Sultan Hotel, Jakarta, Saturday, September 7 2024.
The event, which was held by the Indonesian International Fashion Art Community (KADIIFA) together with the Putra Putri Weaving and Songket Foundation, is expected to educate the younger generation about the richness of weaving and songket culture. At the same time, improving traditional industries and improving the economic life of weavers throughout Indonesia, from Sabang to Merauke.
The 2024 Indonesian Boys and Girls Weaving and Songket event is the fifth event. It is hoped that this annual activity will not stop at literary culture alone, but will expand to other, broader cultures.
“We hope that in the future the use of weaving and songket will develop. “For example, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises make it fashionable,” said Chairman of the Indonesian Glorious Spice Council (DRKI) Tjokorda Ngurah Agung Kusumayudha, in a press release, Monday, September 9 2024.
He hopes that the Grand Final of the 2024 Indonesian Songket Weaving Boys and Girls Selection can create national insight, as well as regional cultural history, so that the younger generation’s perspective and understanding of local culture will be better.
“They understand their culture better amidst the invasion of foreign cultures entering Indonesia,” he said.
Tjokorda said that so far the development of weaving and songket in the regions has been represented by the Regional National Crafts Council, with guidance from the wives of governors and regents or mayors.
He hopes that the development will not just be an exhibition, but they must be able to attract investors so that it continues to develop and be sustainable.
KADIIFA Trustee Muhammad Hatta said that this event was held to encourage the involvement of the younger generation in cultural preservation, as well as to foster love and pride in the younger generation for using woven wastra and songket as the nation’s characteristic clothing.
He reminded that the majority of today’s young generation are more interested in foreign culture and products.
“This is our challenge to prevent the younger generation from becoming addicted to foreign cultures,” he said.
According to him, this activity is a small part of efforts to encourage the preservation, development and promotion of traditional Indonesian woven and songket literature.
“The target is not only to preserve, but also to provide economic prospects for these cloth weavers,” he added.
On the same occasion, KADIIFA General Chair Anna Mariana revealed that currently there are millions of weavers under the auspices of the Putra Putri Tenun and Songket Indonesia Foundation.
“Before Covid-19 the number of people trained was around 42 million people, but the number dropped drastically during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Anna.
Anna believes that the government needs to play a role in reviving these weavers. For example, stipulating the mandatory use of woven and songket clothing, at least once every week. You can also hold exhibitions to introduce weaving and songket to the public, especially the younger generation.
“It is very urgent and very important to improve the economy of craftsmen in the regions, so that weaving and songket develop, like before Covid-19,” he said. (AT Network)
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