Greetings from KARAJA #1
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CURRENT LOCATION: Sumba, Indonesia
LOCAL TIME: 22h15
LOCAL TEMPERATURE: 24 degrees
CURRENTLY READING: Pollution is Colonialism by Max Liboiron
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Hi there,
I am happy to be starting a new “destination” within my Greeting from newsletters: Karaja. The project and my work related to it takes up so much of my time (which I don’t mind at all), I feel it’s worth sharing. Not just the hub in Sumba, but my overarching work on garment durability and how it can be a way to move towards a just circular transition.
Craftivism | What does it stand for?
“Craftivism combines traditional handicrafts with activism to promote social change. The idea is that through craft, you are performing a type of activism.”
It’s not by accident I ended up on an island where such an incredible craft is still honored and practices on a daily basis: ikat weaving. Traditionally these handwoven cloths were the dress of the Sumbanese, draping them around their bodies. The full process can take up to one year to make, considering that cotton was grown on the island. Quite unimaginable for all of us, considering how fast we often want to see the result, use, consume, dispose and start all over again. Starting over with an ikat weaving is not an option, it thus asks endless dedication, passion, attention to details and perseverance to weave.
Craft in the age of Climate Crisis | The case for Ikat
This report by Fashion Revolution India highlight the importance of craft in the age of climate crisis. The study shares: “artisanal crafts promote circular economies”. Looping ikat perfectly into my work on a just circular transition, and the garment role durability plays in it. Basically understanding, how can we make garments last, and help move away from our current throw-away culture. I took a few key points from the report, as they perfectly explain the power of ikat, in the age of the climate crisis we are facing today.
Ikat has an extremely high cultural value, as the fabrics often tell stories woven in by the weavers. However, this is not always reflected in its prices, especially since over the past few years more and more fake and machine-made fabrics have started appearing on the markets. This pushes down the prices, and pressures weavers to sell ikat at a price that does not even come close to reflect the amount they have put in it.
Craft’s value | Endless loops of resistance
Not sure yet why crafts are valuable? Let’s make a comparison.
By supporting traditional (local) crafts, you support a community where you …
Buy locally | Sup
port someone you know, living in your community
Create things yourself | Enabling a lasting relationship with the item
Support craftsmen | And help keep their skills alive
Do not buy (ultra-) fast fashion | And clearly signaling F*** Fast Fashion
… all of the above are acts of resistance against a system which runs on …
Mass cooperations | Which erase small local businesses
Overproduction & overconsumption | Let’s keep making more and more stuff, fed by our constant urge to consume
Exploitation | It’s okay to take without giving
Homogenization | Everything should be the same
So, the choice is yours, what type of system do you want to be part of?
Spreading the word | Join the community!
A big part of the Karaja Upcycling hub is education. Sharing facts about upcycling, and the positive impacts it can have. Furthermore, my aim has also always been that I publish or share part of my PhD in a format accessible to all. I personally don’t see the point in writing a 200-page long document, which no one can understand, and will gather dust on a shelf (no way josé). Finding different ways to translate my work, questions, perspectives is both interesting and challenging. So I am trying to do it with words, visuals, graphs and a combination of all of the above.
And as the report writes about the roots of craft, I hope I can spark the interest with my students to ask their parents and grandparents what Sumba used to be like before, when their animist Marapu beliefs guided them through daily life, in deep connectivity with their ancestors.
Stay tuned for more tales from Karaja Sumba, a beloved destination of mine!
Talk soon,
Hestie -x-
