Exploring Empowerment: Yogyakarta’s Women-Led Enterprise Tour

After a prolonged hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, ViaVia Travel has resumed its social enterprise tours. 

Recently, a special tour request led us to explore the social enterprises owned by remarkable women in Jogja and its surroundings. Meet Cass and her family from Australia, passionately dedicated to craft making, community, and women-preneurship

Join us on this astonishing journey with us, where travel serves as a catalyst for understanding and supporting impactful initiatives in Yogyakarta! 

By the way, these women-led social enterprises also happen to be our partners at Trop, our conscious concept store within ViaVia Travel. Visit our office to discover their exquisite products.

Our first stop: Palka Creative – Crafting from Recycled Dreams

Palka Creative is a haven for bookbinding and paper craftsmanship crafted from recycled materials.
Fula, the owner, personally welcomed and guided us through Palka’s workshop.. Through her lively storytelling, she shared her 10-year journey with Palka, recounting the challenges faced, particularly during the pandemic.

For Fula, Palka is not just a business; it is a manifestation of her commitment to the community. Actively employing women in her workshop, she demonstrated her dedication to empowering others. Notably, one of her most enduring team members is a 60-year-old woman who acquired bookbinding skills under Fula’s mentorship.

Our next stop: Lawe – Weaving Tradition into Modernity

Lawe is a community social enterprise; empowering Indonesian women through the transformation of traditional hand-woven fabrics into functional products. Founded by five women who are passionate about hand-woven fabrics, we learned how Lawe bridges the gap between craftsmen and market needs, prioritizing the well-being of all involved parties.

We were welcome by Mrs. Nindya and Mrs. Atik, integral members of the founding team. Engaging in insightful discussions, we delved deeper into Lawe’s collaboration with weavers across Indonesia. Lawe has successfully established several weaving villages to prevent woven tradition from extinction. In their production process, Lawe also involves nearby housewives as valued members of the team.

Next stop: Tembindigo – Eco-Printed Narratives

Tembindigo is dedicated to creating eco-print products through the skilled hands of the women in Tembi Village. Eco-print, a contemporary textile coloring technique, relies on natural materials like flowers, stems, leaves, and roots, minimizing harmful waste for the environment. Impressively, all these materials are sourced locally around the Tembindigo workshop.

The Tembindigo team not only excels in producing eco-print fabric but also in transforming it into wearable items such as clothes, bags, scarves, and more. During the challenging times of the pandemic, they adapted by connecting with customers who chose to shop from home, ensuring the sustainability of their enterprise. Cass and her family actively participated in the pounding technique, gaining firsthand experience of the eco-printing journey.

Last stop (but not  least): Batik Tulis Kebon Indah – Colors of Liberation

Our journey continued to the Bayat District, a two-hour drive from Jogjakarta, where we visited Batik Tulis Kebon Indah, a community-based Batik artists’ haven. They proudly presented their hand-painted batik creations, utilizing natural colors. Founded in 2006 by the resilient women of Kebon Village, this batik community emerged triumphantly after overcoming the challenges after a serious earthquake.

Mrs. Dalmini, a skilled batik artist, warmly hosted us, sharing the captivating narrative of how batik became the central focus of their lives. Today, the hand-drawn batik from Kebon Indah has made its mark in markets across America and Europe. 

During our visit Cass and her family actively engaged in the artistry, as they tried hand painting a small batik piece, creating a memorable and hands-on experience.

Connecting with Women Entrepreneurs

Start your transformative journey like Cass and her family did! Explore the extraordinary social enterprises owned by women in Yogyakarta through our custom tours. 

Contact us now to tailor your unique experience, supporting local businesses and creating lasting memories. Let’s come together to explore, empower, and make a positive impact! 

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