Helping Disabled People Become Self-Reliant through Batik

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

Lisa Farida (right)

Her desire to make batik and help the deaf has driven Lisa Farida, 40, to change the course of her life. She decided to resign from her formal job at a multinational company and opened a batik-producing business by employing deaf people.

The turning point took place in 2007. Previously, she ran made batik as a side business. A year later, she made the business her main focus.

Initially, she only invited three deaf people from the surrounding area. Not only were they taught to sew, they were also taught to make new patterns and designs so they were not monotonous and old fashioned.

Later, through word of mouth, many people, especially fellow deaf people, were interested in joining Lisa. The business built by Lisa finally became a learning space.

Most of the deaf people would simply observe for months before finally deciding to join in, cutting and sewing. Now, Lisa already employs eight deaf people. However, previously there were 12 others, who chose to open their own businesses independently.

Lisa’s hard work has borne fruit. Often participating in exhibitions, Lisa’s batik clothes, sold under the label Anindya Batik, are marketed throughout Indonesia, from Java, Sulawesi, Sumatra, to Papua.

Her products are also exported to a number of countries in Africa and India. Some time ago, she received an order for 1,000 sets of batik clothes from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Anindya Batik produces six to 10 pieces of clothing per day. When receiving uniform orders from certain agencies, Lisa and her employees can produce 12 to 15 pieces of clothing per day.

Empowering others though business

Lisa’s life is very close to people who are physically disabled, especially the deaf. In addition to her relatives, in the neighborhood where she lives, she also knows and is familiar with a number of other deaf residents.

According to Lisa, they have the same stories and difficulties, namely difficulties finding employment. Not only that, a feeling of being inferior, and having difficulty interacting with others, also makes it difficult for them to become entrepreneurs.

These difficulties saw three deaf people struggle with their own batik businesses. The three people, who were also neighbors, said they often received complaints from their customers. Many customers, who came to have clothes sewn, were disappointed and annoyed because the tailors failed to meet their expectations.

“They could not communicate properly because the customers could not speak sign language. These deaf tailors could only guess what the customers wanted. A lot of guesses are wrong, so they eventually produced incorrect clothing,” she said. In fact, the quality of the tailor’s third stitch is very nice and neat.

The story of the three tailors and a number of other similar stories ultimately disturbed Lisa. She was moved to help. Lisa, who was born to a family of batik artists in Pekalongan, Central Java, then decided to invite the three people to work for her. They also pioneered the production of batik clothes.

At the beginnings of her business, Lisa trained the three tailors in everything related to the production of batik clothes, from cutting cloth, making patterns, making designs, to finishing. Lisa also promoted the work of the three tailors to the Central Java National Craft Council (Dekranasda) and the Central Java Trade Service.

While continuing to expand her marketing networks, Lisa, who at the time was still in her formal job as a supervisor, continued to develop her business. Armed with these networks, Lisa is often invited and asked to be involved in exhibitions around Indonesia. From this, the demand Anindya Batik products has continued to increase.

If previously the workshop only produced clothes when its stocks were running low, now, in order to meet demand, Anindya Batik produces clothes continuously. In 2012, after five years of building her business, Lisa decided to quit her formal job and focus her attention on her business.

“I felt the business activities and empowerment of the deaf could no longer be left as a side businesses,” she said.

Educating

Not only is Lisa’s business famous for the quality of its products, it is increasingly known for employing deaf people.

Lisa’s first three employees would often tell stories about their experiences working at Batik Anindya so the business became known to many people. This also encouraged many other deaf people to get involved. However, most usually lack confidence. Usually they prefer to observe the production activities first. This “observation” activity is carried out for about three months.

Nevertheless, Lisa said, she still responded well to all those who came just to observe.

“Even though they didn’t do anything and only watched the activities of their friends, I still gave them transportation money to go home,” she said.

Lisa has continued to do so until now. She still opens opportunities for anyone, especially people with disabilities, to study and work with her.

When her employees are good enough to produce batik clothes, Lisa encourages them to open their own businesses. Now, 12 employees, the “alumni”, have independently opened their own sewing businesses in a number of regencies, such as Pekalongan, Kendal, Magelang and Karanganyar.

Lisa’s concern for people with disabilities also encouraged her to join the Semarang Disabled House, a self-help educational institution and training center for disabled people. She also welcomes anyone the training center sends to learn to sew or make batik.

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

Lisa Farida

Lisa Farida

Born: Pekalongan, Oct. 9, 1978

Education: Graduated from Semarang University

Job: Owner of Anindya Batik

Husband: Handri, 43

Child: Anindya