South Sulawesi Silk seeks to regain its glory through several steps taken by local government, one of which is by participating in Inacraft 2023.
Heaptalk, Jakarta — South Sulawesi was once famous for its silk in 1963. According to South Sulawesi Governor Andi Sudirman Sulaiman, this glory had gradually disappeared due to global competition and the emergence of imported fabrics resembling silk which were sold at lower prices.
Two regencies in South Sulawesi, namely Wajo and Soppeng, are the centers for silk development in the province. Making silk cloth has been a hereditary business and craft for the people of Wajo and Soppeng.
Currently, the Provincial Government of South Sulawesi is carrying out multiple efforts to restore the glory of South Sulawesi silk, one of which is by expanding the cultivation of mulberry plants to ensure the supply of silkworm feed.
“From the target of 4 million mulberry plants, 2.5 million have been achieved. We will soon add another 1.5 million this year,” Andi said in a talk show titled Returning the Glory of Silk in Wajo and Soppeng Regencies at the International Handicraft Trade Fair (Inacraft) 2023 at JCC Jakarta (03/01).
In addition to providing silkworm feed, the government of South Sulawesi has also built a silk thread spinning factory equipped with the best spinning equipment and dyeing machines for export standard dyes. With this standardized production equipment, South Sulawesi crafters can produce smooth silk fabrics with attractive and long-lasting colors.
The effort to bring back the glory of silk is welcomed with full support from the Regency Governments of Wajo and Soppeng since both of them are optimistic that the efforts will bring great benefits to the economic growth of the local community.
Staying up to date with the global market and the latest trends
Forward, Governor Andi explained several steps that can be taken by the government to maintain the glory of South Sulawesi silk. He voiced, “As for the matter of glory, everything has an era of glory. In the past, we were victorious over silk, such as sugar factories were victorious over sugar. Now the glory is not over the same thing. Indeed, it must adapt to the times.”
The next step is launching innovative ideas to make silk meet the needs of the millennial generation. “This means that it is not for only fathers or mothers but also across generations,” said Andi.
In addition, silk business actors must be aware of the global market while seeing silk’s commercial value. Products also need to be continuously updated with the latest technology to adapt well to the times. Andi said, “All the products that survived in their heyday were only those that were able to adapt to the conditions and situations at that time.”
Product models and colors should also be adjusted to the latest trends, making the users, primarily the millennial generation, feel proud. “To maintain glory, how is it adaptive to circumstances, up to date on products made to meet the needs of the millennial generation,” concluded Andi.
