Wicker Craft Industry as a Part of the Community’s Economy

Wicker craft is part of the craft art representing the life of society, as part of cultural traditions which contain particular meaning, values ​​and beliefs. While as an industry, wicker manufacturer is an important part to move the community's economy. According to statistic in Indonesia, there are 3.822 industrial units engaged in the wicker craft business, mostly located in Tasikmalaya, West Java. In modern era, when technology is growing, while access to information, facilities and communications become much easier, its open more opportunities for businesses to market their handicraft widespread. Even there is a so mush facilitation that makes process a lot easier, but such conditions will bring competition in price and goods becoming inevitable.

On that ground, the industry (in this case, the craftsmen) should given the stock of skills, knowledge, experience, and a good plan when running production. It is the wicker manufacturer responsibility to oversee production of goods which are produced by their employees. Such heavy burden runs with the intention that the resulting woven handicrafts that have been produced have good quality that can compete, both in the domestic or foreign market. Wicker craft has now become a commodity of world trade, and it is very reasonable if person who moved on crafting business should be handling it professionally.  

However, some fact which must be held when doing such industry is the wicker craft can run if there are sufficient and available raw materials to comply with production targets. Because of plaiting materials taken from nature, make sure there are enough rattan, bamboo, and other materials plant which needed to make wicker. You can import raw materials from foreign country for the sake of production, but it is advisable to get it from the environment, after all, this is much cheaper. The second thing you must be held is provide reliable workforces that has the remarkable creativity to design innovative woven handicrafts. Third, seek for a professional marketing manager to manage finances and handle financial problems. And fourth, do some innovation so that the resulting product can have a high value on the market. The more wicker manufacturer have reliable workforces whose can do amazing creative job in making wicker craft, the more they can reach high value on the products. Fifth, because the business has adequate relation with nature, it is urgent to pay attention to the nature so that the wicker industry does not destroy it.  With the number of interior and home design that uses woven handicrafts goods, there is such big chance to develop the industry, not only for the sake of art’s itself, but also for sake of the community economics.