TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The market for environmentally friendly products is starting to take center stage after the growing public awareness of the importance of living in unison with nature. Consumers now not only demand the use of recyclable and organic materials but they also care to the direct effect toward the producers itself and the environment after purchasing an item.

According to Wastra Indonesia Chairman Bhimanto Suwastoyo, his unique market demand has favored products that use natural coloring that is environmentally friendly such as the woven fabric industry that is breaking into the global market through the use of natural coloring.

“People are converging back with nature. Designers in Europe have utilized natural coloring again as woven fabric should also be doing,” said Bhimanto.

Bhimanto explained that there are certain types of textile weavers prefer chemical-based coloring adhering to the market and practicality reasons. Synthetic fabric coloring is also commonly sold in markets and offers the ease of use once it enters production.

This is the essential difference between current textile weavers compared to older ones Bhimanto argued. “Fabric weavers in the past used to incorporate traditional values and prayers upon weaving fabric. This is why they produce it with all their heart. Which is why older weaved fabrics are made with excellence.”

The reason that natural fabric coloring dropped from the market was driven by economic reasons, but the current lifedata-style and willingness shown by consumers to pay more for environmentally-friendly fabrics suggest that today might be the best time to reintroduce fabric weavers to natural coloring technique.

ANTARA