By Elisa Racheal Brayon
The 5th Seni Kita weekend showcase was held from December 17 to December 18 at Kuching Old Courthouse, attracting many visitors both local and foreigners with unique handicrafts, vendors offering delicious foods and drinks, live performances of traditional music, film screenings, and others.
I had the opportunity to attend the showcase and interviewed a few stall owners: Steff Lando and Jasmine Nadi (Gerai Sulu Nuan), Listha Mara Sumarna (Alit Production), and Sherry Valerie Chong (Kuching Autistic Association). They shared their thoughts of the event.
“This is our third participation in the exhibition. We sell Bidayuh-inspired earrings and necklaces, bracelets, handicrafts with island elements, reversible tops, tote bags, and the traditional drink — Tuak — which comes in Roselle and Sugarcane flavours,” said Steff, 32, who is a local singer-songwriter and owner of Gerai Sulu Nuan.
“We wanted to include Dayak culture into (our) daily lives, which we believe will become a trend in the near future. Furthermore, we wanted to highlight how our products help us discover our Dayak roots,” she added.
Jasmine, 28, a creative content creator and one of the owners of Gerai Sulu Nuan, said that during the showcase, they were fortunate because the only difficulties they had were time management due to each having a full-time job, which prevented the other two owners from participating in the 5th showcase. Aside from that, one of the obstacles was attempting to find inspiration for new styles for their items as the market for handicrafts became more competitive.
Both ladies said that they want to be as Dayak as possible when crafting their items while still adapting to modern style. They also had a consignment of their products in the Borneo Cultures Museum.
Sherry, 32, a teacher at the Kuching Autistic Association, said that this is only their second time participating in Seni Kita, despite receiving invitations to the event frequently. The majority of the items on her booth were crafted by autistic students from their therapy centre. Canvas bags, tote bags, T-shirts, books, and many more were made by students aged 12 and above.
“To enter the market, we digitalised all of the arts and sold them as merchandise; consequently, for every item sold, the students will receive a commission,” she said.
The sales were excellent because they were enthusiastically supported by both locals and foreigners, who sparked interest in their products, making both teachers and students happy and appreciated.
Sherry also said that they have their own gallery at their therapy centre, which is located at Lorong 15, Jalan Desa Wira, Kuching.
Listha, a 45-year-old housewife and the founder of Alit Production, which is based on her own nickname, said she started Alit Production because she wanted to do something different in her spare time. This is her first time taking part in Seni Kita.
She sells eco print products, which are fabric products patterned with leaves. The fabric can be converted into a variety of products, including tote bags, t-shirts, handkerchiefs, bandanas, and others.
“Alit Production draws inspiration from the many trees and forests that we may use while still preserving nature’s sustainability by using chemicals that are safe for humans and nature,” she said.
During the showcase, she mentioned that the bad weather had caused her difficulties. She needed to save her fabric products as soon as the rain started falling. However, it is not an impediment to her sales because her product is well received by customers.
“This is only a hobby of mine to pass the time, and if it’s God’s will, I will open a store, but it will not happen anytime soon,” she said.
Listha added that Alit Production is new to the market, therefore she has no plans to open a physical store anytime soon, but she does have a website where people may purchase her product.
Seni Kita weekend 2022 concluded its chapter following the fifth showcase this year, which was favourably appreciated by entrepreneurs, locals, and foreigners. It is hoped that this showcase will inspire more people to join in the upcoming Seni Kita, particularly to generate income for small businesses. It is also an encouragement to improve their creativity and innovation, as well as to raise awareness of the background of their products.
• This article was written by a student from the Strategic Communication Programme at the Faculty of Language and Communication, UNIMAS.
