KUCHING: The uniqueness of woven baskets lies in the fine art of embroidery, complete with contemporary motifs and up-to-date design, to negate any impression they are appropriate to be taken to the wet market.
Beatrice Joy Awil, 40, and Acheh Budin, 50, started weaving rattan baskets as a hobby but today, they have turned it into a business, even receiving orders for their wicker baskets featuring unique and traditional designs.
“I started actively venturing into the business field in 2019, which was to provide a beauty service at home, and in 2020 when we were hit by Covid-19 , I sold the perfume brand “Sugarbomb”.
“And I started a basket weaving business in December last year with Acheh Budin, my business partner,” explained Beatrice to the New Sarawak Tribune.
Baskets are usually produced from woven bamboo, rattan, “bemban” or “mengkuang”.
“We run the business of making woven baskets on a part-time basis and do not have assistants because we run this business online,” she said.
The challenges they go through in this business is dividing time between family and managing house work.
“We promote our sales business through friends, family and also social media such as on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp,” she said.
“We wish to expand this business further, so that our handicraft products can be introduced to the whole world and hopefully as female entrepreneurs succeed in highlighting the woven handicrafts of people in the past,” she added.
Customers who want to order their woven baskets can contact them on Beatrice 0109818922, Acheh 0146875396, or Facebook Beatrice Med, or Facebook Acheh Ceh, or Instagram betjoy_ , or Tiktok betjoy for more information.
