Indonesia is known for its natural wealth that we can meet in the surrounding environment and can be used to become a new business opportunity.
One of the activities that utilize the leaves and flowers of the plant is the manufacture of high-value ecoprint in the market.
Unknown ecoprint activities by coastal communities make Mitra Insani Foundation (YMI) encouraged to provide training and support tools in making ecoprint.
This Ecoprint activity was carried out in two coastal villages of Tembilahan, namely Pulau Cuawang Village and Igal village with the target of training Housewives.
Ecoprint is a printing technique on fabric by utilizing the natural colors of leaves and flowers that produce unique and aesthetic motifs.
In the ecoprint process, two staining techniques are known, namely Iron banket technique and Pounding technique.
Ecoprint Manufacturing Technique
Samsiah, as a trainee and owner of an independent ecoprint business said “in this ecoprint activity we use Pounding and Steam techniques’
‘This technique is quite simple, the main thing is that we do the mordant on the fabric first so that the color absorption is faster” he continued again
Mordant itself is a steaming cloth into water solution of sodium Acetat, alum and Tunjung.
Samsiah (47) continued “after mordant, we will arrange the leaves on the fabric to form the desired pattern.
Then cover the cloth with another cloth, hit the leaves and flowers slowly starting from the bones of the leaves and then the edges. Roll the cloth and tie it, then steam it for two to three hours to get maximum results” he explained the ecoprint process.
The tools and materials used are quite affordable and easy to find around, including fabrics from natural fibers, soda, leaves, flowers, Sodium Acetate, Soda ash, wood hammers and tannins.
‘the fabric used must be from natural fibers without chemicals such as gray, linen, cotton rayon’ said Siti Nurjanah (42) also as a trainee
Not only using plain fabrics, ecoprint activities are also carried out on clothes, totebags based on natural fibers.
Not all leaves can give off a natural color. Leaves that have natural colors include mango leaves, mangrove, frangipani, guava, castor, Ferns, insulin, etc.
As for the types of flowers that can be used are insulin flowers, kenikir, Cambodia.
“We as the people of Pulau Cuaca are very happy with this activity, because it has a positive value. We just found out that the leaves can be used. Hopefully we can apply the knowledge” explained Ani as chairman of the PKK Island Cup.
Bima Irawan as a Staff of Mitra Insani Foundation said “Hopefully with the holding of this ecoprint training, the community can develop creativity and can also use the surrounding plants to build a business in advancing the family economy” he said.
