Eyewitness News – BADUNG
Chairperson of the Bali Regional Handicraft Council (Dekranasda), Putri Koster, emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive, end-to-end protection of Bali’s traditional woven fabric, Endek, spanning from upstream production to downstream marketing.
Speaking at the “Journey of Wastra” event at Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel on Friday (Oct 2), she warned that promotion alone is insufficient without safeguarding the authentic techniques, designs, and raw materials that define its cultural heritage.
Key highlights from her address include:
• Upstream & Intellectual Property Protection: Preserving Endek requires strict quality control during production and robust legal enforcement against unauthorized copying of artisans’ unique motifs and designs.
• Economic Ecosystem & Market Access: Dekranasda Bali actively supports local artisans by providing dedicated marketplace hubs, such as the Art Center, connecting weavers directly with broader commercial opportunities while encouraging mass production to maintain high standards.
• Youth Engagement & Innovation: Sustaining Endek relies on cultivating appreciation among younger generations, encouraging them to adapt the fabric to modern fashion trends without stripping away its ancestral identity.
• Inter-Agency Collaboration: Koster urged tighter coordination between Dekranasda, the Department of Industry and Trade, and local stakeholders to enforce IP regulations and secure the craft’s economic sustainability.
The “Journey of Wastra” event highlighted Bali’s rich textile heritage to both local and international audiences through exhibitions, batik-making workshops, fashion shows, and industry talk shows featuring key figures from the Ministry of Industry and prominent local designers.
Reported by Daniel Herry.
