KUCHING: Jacqueline Fong believes that heritage and development can coexist and bring economic contributions.
Through its mission, the company enables rural communities in Sarawak to earn income from their traditional skills and crafts.
As a recipient of the Yayasan Hasanah grant, Tanoti Crafts operates through three business pillars: products, services and experiences.
“Our pipeline is exciting, an inflection point in the business of culture; to revive in the eyes of the people, hearts of the young and conversations with one another,” Fong, the co-founder of Tanoti Crafts, shared during a presentation at the “Impact Marketplace” Asia Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (June 21).
Tanoti Crafts was founded almost 12 years ago as a platform for craft artisans from rural Sarawakian villages to preserve their traditions and ancestral skills, particularly in songket-weaving.
“Of course, songket-weaving could not possibly be all we do. We knew we could do more for crafts, especially in Sarawak, where half of its population live in the rural areas,” said the former banker.
In addition to preserving traditions, Fong emphasised that weaving skills provide rural communities with the opportunity to earn income, addressing the challenges of limited employment options in remote areas.
“In the rural and remote villages, where employment is hard, wealth is miniscule; Tanoti has been creating and providing a simple solution; for crafts to be an economic tool; a natural income earner.”
Fong recalled the early days of Tanoti Crafts, which were challenging, with negative earnings for six years.
However, driven by their conviction to preserve crafts, they persevered. Today, the company is thriving, with their crafts gaining popularity and financials turning profitable.
“Like many others, the Covid-19 pandemic gave us the opportunity to pivot and reassess, agility is key. So instead of dwelling on the crafts, we bring the people to the fore; where their skills became our focus.
“We started various projects during lockdown, which gave Tanoti a quantum leap; there was a mass call for sewers – many of them our artisans – to make personal protective equipment (PPE) for the frontliners, healthcare workers and other hospital staff.”
Fong expressed pride in Tanoti Crafts being recognised not only for its social impact but also for its design and quality, transforming a cottage industry into a revolutionary force.
