Silawati transforms her passion for knitting into a thriving business, with her handcrafted products reaching cities across Indonesia and appealing to international markets through perseverance and innovation.
In the quaint alleyways of Batam, Silawati crafts luxury from yarn, her creations commanding high prices. Her skills, honed from childhood observations of her mother and self-taught efforts, have earned her leadership roles in local and regional knitting communities.
Her brand, Kirumi Craft, showcases a range of knitted items, offering customization for connoisseurs and drawing challenges that spur her creativity, with products ranging from shoes and hats to intricately designed umbrellas.
The time invested in each creation and the pricing reflect the complexity of the design, with shoes ranging from IDR 250,000 to IDR 700,000 and hats between IDR 150,000 to IDR 300,000.
Her masterpieces include umbrellas that take up to two weeks to complete, with prices soaring from IDR 1.5 million for simple designs to IDR 3.5 million for intricate ones, catering to the upscale market and international tourists.
Silawati’s craftsmanship gained national attention at the Festival Payung Indonesia, where her “Sepayung Bumi, Hijau Bumiku” umbrella inspired by Batam’s mangrove forests ranked in the national top 10.
Staying relevant by keeping up with trends, Silawati leverages social media for marketing and has partnered with Montigo Resort Nongsa, despite grappling with an 11% tax for shipping goods outside Batam.
Silawati’s success story is an inspiration for Singaporeans and international visitors, showcasing the potential of turning a hobby into a profitable enterprise that transcends borders, highlighting the rich cultural craftsmanship of Indonesia.
Silawati from Batam has turned her knitting hobby into a lucrative business, reaching customers in Indonesia and abroad. Through continuous learning and adapting to trends, she exemplifies how creativity and dedication can achieve entrepreneurial success and international appeal.
Source : Go Kepri (2023)
