Singaraja- Creative industry in the form of weaving is still the leading sector of Buleleng Regency. In the midst of this, especially coupled with the presence of the Covid-19 pandemic, this sector is entangled in a number of problems. One of them was experienced by Artha Dharma weaving in Sinabun Village, Sawan District, Buleleng. Such conditions have received attention from academics at the Ganesha University of Education (Undiksha) to be handled.
Academics who are members of one team consist of Dr.rer.nat. I Wayan Karyasa, S.Pd., M.Sc., I Gede Putu Banu Astawa, S.T., M.Ak., I Made Ardwi Pradnyana, S.T., M.T and Ni Made Vivi Oviantari, S.Si., M.Si. This team is trusted by the Directorate of Research and Community Empowerment, Directorate General of Research and Development Strengthening, Ministry of Research and Technology / BRIN to run the Indonesian SME community empowerment program Bangkit Year 2020.
The team leader, I Wayan Karyasa, Wednesday (11/25/2020) explained that the problems that entangled the industrial sector consisted of several aspects. The first is related to the production aspect. Raw materials for yarn, especially natural silk threads, are increasingly expensive and difficult to obtain, but there are many synthetic silks circulating in the market with poor woven quality. In addition, the coloring still relies on synthetic colors. On the other hand, the price of synthetic colors and their supporting chemicals is getting more expensive. The dyeing waste produced by this industry has not been able to be processed optimally, so it has the potential to pollute the environment.
Second, relates to aspects of business management. Product sales turnover decreased dramatically, causing the company’s cash-flow to be worrying and impacting on the reduction of the workforce. Third, the aspect of reorienting and developing the weaving business to anticipate the decline in people’s purchasing power and consumption patterns that focus more on food and health.
These three aspects of the problem were handled through a program entitled “Generating Buleleng’s Traditional Weaving Crafts Through Revitalizing Dyeing Technology Using Inorganic Nanopasta Fixators and Strengthening Environmentally Friendly Creative Industry Branding”. Karyasa explained that inorganic nanopasta fixator technology is a technology in the form of a paste with nanometer particle size made from a mixture of silica rice husk ash, volcanic ash from Mount Agung, and additional ingredients, namely copper sulfate or tunjung powder or ferrosulfate. This nanopasta plays a role in increasing the bond strength between dye molecules and fiber molecules from both cotton and silk threads during the dyeing process so that the colors attached to the threads do not fade easily. “This nanopasta has been successfully developed since 2019 imitating the chemical composition of the Nunleu mud used by the people of NTT. Then in 2020 it was developed from the volcanic ash mud of Mount Agung, added with nanosilica rice husks to strengthen the fiber so that it does not break easily when the thread is woven later, “he explained.
In line with this innovative breakthrough, the Undiksha service team together with industrial partners managed by Ketut Rajin agreed to take further steps. This is in the form of realizing the idea of producing silk thread yourself by collaborating with silkworm breeders and spinning their own as well as building and operating a natural dyeing installation with inorganic nanopasta fixator technology that is integrated with a dyeing sewage treatment plant. In addition, assistance is also carried out in an effort to build an integrated business management system with digital data-based marketing management, intensify online promotions and strengthen the branding of woven products that return to nature and are environmentally friendly. This product innovation is also supported by changes and reorientation of business plans and business development as well as online assistance in the preparation of weaving education tourism packages and weaving education and training packages. “The purpose of this program is to raise the typical Buleleng weaving business in Sinabun Village, especially Artha Dharma Weaving to be a leverage to improve the welfare of entrepreneurs and weavers,” said Karyasa.
Furthermore, this chemical academic said that through these breakthroughs, it is targeted that the Artha Dharma weaving industry can continue to survive and its production is sustainable. “Through this program, we hope that the typical Buleleng weaving can continue to be sustainable,” he concluded. (lpsy)
