A co-venture between a Bruneian artist and a Kalimantan-based social enterprise Suzi Sitai X Handep is looking to collaborate with artisans across Borneo to promote fair trade and transparency in the indigenous arts business.
Founders of the co-venture, Bruneian Susannah Anak Rogo Sitai Liew and Kalimantan’s Randi Julian Miranda hope to achieve this by building up an elaborate profile of each artisans and their crafts so businesses and the public can recognize the work that goes behind them.
They believe that this will also help in preserving the island’s indigenous art scene and provide artisans with a more deserving income for their handiworks.
At present, the co-venture is looking to include women of various indigenous tribes in Borneo, to help them establish a “sustainable village economy” that is rooted in “ancestral wisdom through local resources.”
In an interview, Randi gave his account on how the work of indigenous artisans are not acknowledged by both the public and the businesses they deal with; often causing these craftswomen to feel discouraged to continue their crafting traditions.
The 30-year-old Co-Founder and CEO of Handep, said that the social enterprise works closely with these indigenous artisans to create premium quality crafts that are sustainable through the use of traditional materials such as Rattan.
He said that Handep also pays attention to transparency in their business practices, both towards the public as well as the artisans they work with by featuring not only the profiles of the weavers on their products, but also where the materials were sourced.
“We also make sure that the indigenous artisans are given a fair wage and that they are aware of how much they will earn for every piece they craft,” he explained, adding that currently, weavers receive at least 25 per cent of Handep’s retail price.
Adding up to Randi’s account, Susannah noted that the entire point of transparency between these artisans and the public itself is a “beautiful relationship”.
“Especially with their ancestral knowledge, preserving these artisans is important because they are the perfect custodians for the rainforest,” she said.
She added that through the Suzi Sitai X Handep collaboration, the duo – both of which are indigenous themselves – will be able to work with other indigenous artisans across the island, setting her sights first on the Lun Bawang of Temburong.
“We want to see where this collaboration can take us, but more importantly, we want to use this platform to help indigenous artisans to innovate themselves while still maintaining their traditions,” said Susannah.
“We’ve noticed how indigenous artisans here in Brunei are going towards crafts that use plastic due to modernity and the scarcity of sourcing Rattan,
“I hope that in the future, through our collaboration, we will be able to preserve that tradition and bring it to the modern age.”
Wafi Wasil
BRUNEI-MUARA
MediaStar
