Syams Handicraft Bags from Waste are on the Export Market

The pandemic period doesn’t mean you can’t work. Syahrial Aman has proven it. This 2005 Diponegoro University Marine Engineering alumnus is creative with plastic waste, turning it into a product with high selling value. Even his bags have successfully penetrated the export market.

Syahrial and his wife, Sri Indri Astuti, a 2005 Undip Nursing alumnus, succeeded in developing a woven bag business with the Syam’s Handicraft brand, using plastic waste. Syahrial and his wife are keen to target opportunities where there are many consumers, but few business people.

“In 2018, we invested in plastic waste as basic materials, then as time went by, we realized the need to develop materials, such as motifs, models and following existing fashion,” he said.

Apart from being made from plastic waste, Syam’s Handicraft bags have other unique qualities, so they are popular with women, especially young women and young mothers. “Aside from being used for waste, our bags also have economical prices and follow current fashion trends,” said Syahrial.

This bag product has various sizes, and of course the prices vary. Small sized bags, such as handbags, pouches and glasses cases are sold for IDR 20 thousand, while medium and large sized bags cost up to IDR 175 thousand.

Syahrial admits that the pandemic has also had an impact on his business. However, according to the name Syam’s which comes from one of the letters of the Koran, Asyam which means sun, it is hoped that its business will continue to shine and can help the community. This business has indeed opened up job opportunities for hundreds of mothers in the surrounding areas.

“During the pandemic, many mothers experienced difficulties. The presence of this Syam business can help them fulfill their needs. “Until now, we have worked with 300 mothers to do the weaving,” explained Syahrial, who is also an engineering lecturer.

Despite experiencing difficulties, he said, his business is still running, because several tourist attractions are still busy. “Every week we can send bags to Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Bali. Our sales are still good,” he admitted to IKA Undip contributors.

Not only in the local market, his bags have also traveled to Sakura, thanks to digital marketing. This started with a Balinese reseller who introduced Syam’s products to the Japanese market.

“Alhamdulillah, in 2020 our products have successfully entered the Japanese market. “Through the Balinese reseller who is the third hand, 1500 Syam’s bags have been marketed in Japan and this continues to this day,” he said.

For those of you who are interested in this woven bag, please visit the Instagram account @syamsindonesia. (patricia)

from : Syams Handicraft Tas dari Limbah Melenggang di Pasar Ekspor (ikaundip.org)