Redesigning lives: Kaya Ecoprint promotes sustainable fashion while empowering women

How the ACB, through the Small Grants Programme, capacitated women in the buffer zone of Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) in Indonesia to promote sustainable clothing through the production of ecoprinted fabrics and non-textile materials using natural dyes extracted from locally-available leaves and flowers.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the world came to a standstill, residents of Timbang Jaya Village—an ecotourism spot located in North Sumatra, Indonesia—faced significant livelihood challenges. With the loss of income from ecotourism and other sources, many households struggled to make ends meet.

The women, who were predominantly homemakers, had limited opportunities to earn additional income and support their families. When Politeknik Wilmar Bisnis Indonesia (PWBI) offered an alternative way of earning income and putting food on the table, the women of Timbang Jaya did not hesitate to grab the opportunity.

What started as a simple livelihood project in Timbang Jaya has resulted in the formation of Kaya Ecoprint, a group of empowered women who became entrepreneurs to promote a clothing supply chain that is ecologically and socially responsible.

Nurma Indah Sari enjoys producing ecoprinted products and is a proud member of the Kaya Ecoprint group

It was in 2019 when the group was first introduced to ecoprinting by PWBI, an educational institution dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurs in Indonesia and a grantee under the Small Grants Programme by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (SGP).

Proving that there’s beauty in nature, PWBI taught the women of Timbang Jaya to use natural dyes—extracted from various types of leaves and flowers—to print unique and intricate designs in clothes, shawls, bags, and other fabrics and non-textile materials. Unlike conventional printing that uses synthetic dyes, this technique does not involve any industrial waste, allowing the group to practise and promote sustainability.

The products designed and sold by the Kaya Ecoprint group

Over the years, ecoprinting has been gaining popularity in the global fashion industry as it takes steps to shift toward sustainable and environment-friendly practices. More and more eco-conscious designers are appreciating the one-of-a- kind patterns that this technique produces.

Since Indonesia is endowed with immense biological resources and boasts several endemic plants, ecoprinting may also become one of the country’s signature products in addition to batik.

The women of Timbang Jaya easily learned the ins and outs of ecoprinting and embraced sustainable fashion.

Kaya Ecoprint has transformed homemakers into successful entrepreneurs and helped ensure sustainability of their business. With the help of PWBI and SGP, members of the Kaya Ecoprint group underwent training on marketing, social media promotion, and human and financial resource management. They created connections with potential partners so they could better penetrate the ecoprinting market and get closer to potential customers, by allowing them to participate in exhibitions and using their products as corporate giveaways.

“My husband’s income from farming is hardly enough for our needs, so having another source of income allows us to buy food for the whole family and some other things like school supplies,” says Siti Rokayah, a 38-year-old mother of three and ecoprint craftsperson.

She added, “We did not know that the solution to our problem was right before our eyes. Because of Kaya Ecoprint, our lives became better. We gained additional income and we became more confident. But more than that, we learned to value nature more than ever.”

“I wish this group will grow and be more widely known to the public. I am happy. I enjoy it because my husband and family support me. My dream is to have my own studio, have additional members, invite more housewives and other villagers to join me in these activities to increase their income.”

— Siti Rokayah, ecoprint craftsperson

The group has also since expanded its business— in addition to creating beautiful clothes and other materials, the women of Kaya Ecoprint now provide ecoprinting demonstrations to tourists visiting GLNP.

As more of Timbang Jaya’s women embraced ecoprinting and the opportunities that come with it, the original Kaya Ecoprint group further grew. A new group, Cantik Lestari Ecoprint, was created to accommodate more ecoprint craftspersons.

For the women of Timbang Jaya, life will never be the same again. With the homemakers’ sheer grit and determination and the invaluable support from SGP and PWBI, they were able to uplift their livelihood, as well as enrich their skills and confidence, all while making their mark in environmental conservation.