Amuntai, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Craftsmen in the North Hulu Sungai (HSU) certainly would not have guessed that the purun plait they have been doing as a side business turned out to be a fashion product worth millions of rupiah.
The National Peat Restoration Agency (BRG) embraced Eco Fashion Indonesia (EFI) to develop the purun (a peat edge plant easily found in peat swamp areas) woven crafts with an international standard fashion 'touch'.
"To make purun woven international standard fashion products, the way to manufacture with local standards must be abandoned," said fashion designer from Eco Fashion Indonesia, Merdi Sihombing, in Amuntai, Saturday.
He said currently the fashion world is starting to look at fashion that is environmentally friendly to reduce the level of environment pollution from fashion waste.
Fashion products derived from natural fibers with natural dyes have higher quality and selling points.
BRG and EFI will empower the potential of local artisans and raw materials, especially the North Hulu Sungai Regency, where 89 percent of the area is peat or swamp.
Darussalam Village in Danau Panggang Subdistrict is used as the location for purun craft and natural sasirangan development activities.
"Here there are craftsmen of purun with abundant raw materials obtained from peatlands around them, then we direct and nurture them," Merdi said.
Various natural fibers and natural dyes could easily be obtained on peat land. The surrounding communities would be aware that peat land had high economic potential.
The training was held five days since May 21 ended on Saturday officially closed by BRG Deputy III Myrna Asnawati Safitri.
Myrna hopes to strengthen mutual cooperation between BRG representatives and Eco Fashion and the local government to continue its development.
"In addition to the artisans we involved in the training, we also invite young people and students because they will be able to develop purun and Sasirangan plaiting businesses into an industry in the future," said Myrna.
