KUCHING, Sept 7 — Young indigenous artisan Fedrick Ding is helping rural women turn traditional rattan weaving into a source of income by transforming their handwoven pieces into contemporary shoes, handbags and other fashion products.

The 32-year-old Kayan from Tubau, Bintulu, works with rural artisans to develop products that combine traditional craftsmanship with contemporary designs.

His journey began six years ago when his uncle, a rattan bag maker in Tubau, sought his help with marketing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ding said the pandemic exposed the vulnerability of rural communities whose livelihoods depended on travelling to cities to sell their handicrafts.

“When the pandemic (happened), the villagers had no income. So, my uncle, who is in the village (Tubau), saw stagnant sales because they couldn’t go out to the city to sell things,” he told Bernama.

The situation prompted Ding to explore new ways of bringing traditional rattan products to a wider market, eventually expanding the range from bags to shoes and other fashion items, including ethnic beaded jewellery.

“We then realised that what we produced is different from what was already available in the market,” he said.

Ding sources rattan from villagers in Bakun and Belaga, as well as his hometown, located about one-and-a-half hours’ drive from Bintulu town.

In some areas, obtaining the material requires a two-hour boat journey from the longhouses into deeper forest areas before it is prepared for weaving.

Ding said rattan harvesting is often carried out by husband-and-wife teams, with women involved in gathering the raw material as well as preparing and weaving it.

He said he particularly admired the women artisans for their exceptional weaving skills and believed their craftsmanship deserved recognition beyond the villages.

“When I see their work, I know I have to give them a chance. They have the skills, and the work they produce is extraordinary,” he said.

Ding said many of the artisans he works with are aged 50 and above, and he makes it a point not to bargain down the price of their work.

“So, every time I place an order, whatever price they sell, that’s what we buy. If we feel the price is RM100, that is the price, their income to help the family,” he said.

While younger people have traditionally shown less interest in weaving because the income is not always immediate or consistent, Ding said he had begun seeing a change.

He said changing perceptions of rattan was also key to sustaining the craft, as local consumers still tended to associate it with souvenirs rather than fashion.

“We don’t want you, as a consumer, to see this as just a souvenir. It’s a lot more than that,” he said.

Looking beyond Sarawak, Ding recently participated in the Borneo Native Festival in Kuala Lumpur, where he sold five pairs of shoes and two bags over three days.

His handmade shoes and bags are priced from RM599, while customers from Australia and Singapore have shown interest in his products.

His shoes have also been displayed at the London College of Fashion.

Ding also received mentorship from renowned Malaysian fashion designer Prof Datuk Jimmy Choo to further develop his craft skills.

Apart from building his own brand, Ding hopes to work with more artisans across Sarawak and eventually connect rural makers with wider markets, including international ones.

Behind every woven shoe or handbag, he believes, are the hands, knowledge and livelihoods of rural artisans — a legacy he hopes to help sustain and grow, one weave at a time. — Bernama