“We launched a local ethnic fashion brand, Azael Collection, a micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) run by women in Maluku,” she said in Ambon on Friday.
As a lecturer at Unpatti’s Faculty of Agriculture, Fransina combines academia with creative economy practice, using fashion to introduce Maluku’s cultural identity while empowering local communities, especially women and regional artisans.
“Higher education has a moral responsibility to raise critical awareness and support local contexts, including marginalized groups and women,” she said.
Through Azael Collection, she merges Maluku motifs, symbols, and cultural values with modern design. Each product conveys visual uniqueness and tells stories about local identity, history, and women’s roles in preserving cultural heritage.
Her ethnic fashion products have reached major Indonesian cities and have been showcased internationally, including a 2025 exhibition in Darwin, Australia.
Fransina sees MSMEs as more than economic activity - they are cultural and social strategies to make Maluku culture a sustainable economic asset.
“We want to prove Maluku culture is not only worth preserving but can also be an economic resource competing nationally and globally,” she said.
Production involves local artisans, particularly women, providing direct economic benefits to the community.
“Fashion is both a space for cultural expression and empowerment. When women and local artisans are given opportunities, the local economy grows,” she added.
Looking ahead, she is committed to developing designs, expanding market networks, and preserving cultural values as the brand’s core identity.
“Our hope is simple: this brand will continue to bridge Maluku culture with the world and create more economic opportunities for local communities,” she said.
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Translator: Ode DLAZ, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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