'Weaving Wonders' Exhibition Highlights Strength of NTT Women in Driving Economy

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Yayasan Bambu Lingkungan Lestari (YBLL) together with Uma Nusantara inaugurated the exhibition Weaving Wonders: The Spirit of NTT in Jakarta, Saturday, June 13, 2026. This exhibition highlights the role of women from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) in driving the economy thru traditional weaving and the preservation of local culture.

The Vice Minister for Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Veronica Tan, said that women should be placed as subjects of economic development, not just beneficiaries of empowerment programs. According to her, women have the ability to be both drivers and entrepreneurs who can create added value for the national economy.

"Women are not just beneficiaries, not just participants in the program. Women can be movers and entrepreneurs who add more value to the national economic strategy," she stated.

She further explained that the exhibition not only showcased woven products but also highlighted the great potential of NTT in the food sector and natural resource management. Various local foods such as sorghum and bose corn were introduced as part of the cultural wealth and a source of food security for the community.

In addition, the exhibition also showcases the use of bamboo cultivated by women in NTT. The plant is considered to have economic benefits while also supporting environmental conservation efforts because it can absorb water and produce various value-added products.

Meanwhile, the Founder of Uma Nusantara, Yori Antar, stated that the development of traditional weaving has opened new economic opportunities for women in various regions of NTT. One of the initiatives includes the construction of weaving houses that directly connect weavers with tourists and buyers.

"We want to turn the tables." "Not the weaver looking for buyers anymore, but the buyers looking for the weaver," Yori said.

According to him, the weaving house is not only a place to market products but also a space to introduce the cultural values contained in each piece of fabric. He explained that a single woven fabric can take six to ten months to complete by a weaver, making each piece unique in its own right.

"The woven fabric that was once folded is now hung like a work of art. It is no longer just fabric, but a piece of art and culture," he said.

Yori added that the women weavers play an important role as the backbone of the family's economy and as guardians of cultural heritage. Thru the weaving skills passed down thru generations, they not only earn an income but also preserve the cultural identity of the NTT community.