A small and medium scale businesswoman A.A.A Mas Utari N said here on Tuesday that buyers of her painted wooden fan mostly came from Arab countries, besides corporates and foreign embassies.
"To tell the stroy of Rama and Shinta, I made it in fragments. For instance, the moment when Hanuman (the white monkey) helped Shinta. I made it in one fan."
"The next wooden fan will tell the next fragment of the legend. With this way, buyers will keep asking, what will you have for next time," Mas Utari said in Indonesia Pavilion, a side event held during the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank annual meetings here.
Some 150 SMEs from 64 cities and districts in Indonesia have participated in the event held in Nusa Dua, Bali on October 8-14.
The legend of Kala Rahu (a giant who ate the moon), that has been told for centuries as local legend about moon eclipse, was well-pictured in a piece of wooden fan.
"This can be used a media to tell our children. Even when they are far from this country, they will still remember the local culture," she said, adding that she also used sandalwood as raw material.
The price of the painted wooden fan is set at a range of Rp750 thousand to Rp2 million, depending on the size and the design. Flower paintings for instance, is cheaper than other design because it is more simple.
In addition to painted fan, Mas Utari has also produced bamboo fan using garment waste.
"Our initial concept is how to use the waste. As we know, kebaya (women traditional cloth) has been part of our daily life in Bali. We take and use these pieces to make a fan," she added.
The product has been exported to 12 countries, including the United Kingdom, Poland, the United States, France.
Mas Utari has also used other waste materials such as endek woven fabric, shells, and used-can.
Her participation in Inacraft exhibition in Jakarta has opened the chance for her to get loyal customers.
She has been under the guidance of state-owned bank BNI since 2012 that supports her in marketing through exhibitions.
Reporter: Sri Haryati
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
