OKU TIMUR, The Indonesia Post – The wish of the Chairman of the Regional National Craft Council (Dekranasda) of South Sumatra, Feby Deru, to raise the Kain Sulam Angkinan craft so that it is more widely known to the public continues to be carried out on an ongoing basis. This effort was realized by providing assistance to UMKM partner angkinan craftsmen Weaving Songket ‘Mawar’ in Gunung Batu village, Cempaka District, East OKU Regency, Monday (21/09/2020).
Assistance was provided in cooperation with the South Sumatra Regional Secretariat and the South Sumatra Disperindag in the form of velvet cloth, gold thread, embroidery thread, and ram.
The desire to make Gunung Batu Village, Cempaka Subdistrict, East OKU Regency a center for the angkinan handicraft industry, said Feby Deru, was not without reason. According to her, embroidery angkinan is very unique with materials in the form of velvet, a combination of gold thread and embroidery thread with beautiful motifs.
“Songket cloth is already widely known. Therefore, this year, through the South Sumatra Dekranasda, we are trying to lift the angkinan embroidered cloth. Not many are familiar with this cloth. In fact, the angkinan embroidery is no less beautiful than the songket cloth that has been known earlier,” explained Feby .
According to Feby, in Gunung Batu Village there are still many residents who are engaged in songket and angkinan crafts that require attention. As a form of support to be more enthusiastic in running their business in order to compete with other typical South Sumatra handicraft industries.
“In Palembang, the center for angkinan handicrafts is centered in the area of Jalan Animal Husbandry, Sei Selincah. So for East OKU, the village of Gunung Batu is a center for angkinan embroidery,” added Feby.
With the centralized center of the angkinan handicraft industry in one area, said Feby, it makes it easier for guests or tourists who visit to get superior products typical of this region. If previously only tourists were familiar with Palembang songket, in the future it is hoped that Angkinan Embroidery will be able to compete in the market, maybe even exceed the prestige of songket cloth.
“This is also a step to encourage and trigger and revive the enthusiasm of craftsmen in increasing economic productivity during the Covid-19 pandemic,” she concluded.
When visiting the center
This time, Feby Deru not only handed over assistance, but also interacted directly with craftsmen about the development of angkinan embroidery fabrics so that they were not only concerned with one motive.
Solehah, one of them, a woman who crafted the embroidery of angkinan, expressed her gratitude for the attention and care given by the Head of the South Sumatra Regional Secretariat.
“Yes, of course we are happy with the assistance. Indeed, those are the materials we need,” she said.
The 52-year-old woman admits that she has been practicing embroidery on angkinan since she was a young girl until now. She mentioned that she had made various kinds of angkinan embroideries, starting from tablecloths, pillowcases, and wedding dresses. (ojn/ril)
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