Sumba Weaving Heritage Goes to Indonesia-Singapore Orchid Extravaganza

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Diversified conglomerate PT Astra International Tbk has taken Indonesia’s rich cultural tapestry to the global stage, showcasing its community-empowerment initiative from East Sumba at the prestigious Indonesia-Singapore Orchid Extravaganza in Singapore.

The exhibition, hosted at the iconic Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay, will run until August 10, 2026. Featured as a key segment of the MASA Singapore 2026: A Sight Into Indonesia's Golden Era event, the showcase highlights Astra’s efforts to bridge indigenous cultural preservation with modern sustainable development goals before an international audience.

At the heart of the exhibit is the Astra Sejahtera Village (DSA) program in East Sumba, which supports five historic weaving centers: Kampung Raja Prailiu, Mbatakapidu, Lambanapu, Mauliru, and Kawangu. By fostering the production of the highly revered traditional Tenun Ikat (handwoven warp-resistant textiles), Astra is bolstering local economic autonomy while protecting ancestral wisdom, where each woven motif reflects a sacred relationship between the islanders, nature, and their forebears.

"The Indonesia-Singapore Orchid Extravaganza is a continuation of joint efforts to introduce Indonesian creativity to the international community. Through mutual collaboration, Astra hopes that community empowerment and Indonesia's local potential can become increasingly well-known," Astra Chief of Corporate Affairs Boy Kelana Soebroto said in a written statement on Monday, July 6, 2026.

The program currently supports an ecosystem of roughly 250 local artisans, a staggering 97 percent of whom are women. By shifting the craft from a secondary household chore to a reliable entrepreneurial venture, the initiative provides a steady stream of income for rural women while keeping their textile heritage alive.

To bring this remote island narrative to life in Singapore, Astra erected a custom Sumba House pavilion inside the Flower Dome. The interactive installation displays authentic Tenun Ikat textiles alongside striking documentary photography that highlights the daily lives and labor of the female weavers behind the looms.

In a creative bid to merge cultural preservation with climate awareness, Astra also sponsored a monumental botanical art installation depicting Indonesia's native giant bloom, the Rafflesia arnoldii. Created in collaboration with design studio Mortier and environmental digital creator Jerhemy Owen, the giant floral sculpture was crafted using 29,100 recycled plastic bottle caps.

The eco-art installation aims to educate multinational visitors on the impact of waste circularity, illustrating how discarded plastic can be upcycled into high-value artistic statements to promote a sustainable future. (Naura Sofia-EN)