Project News

About 10 months have passed since the Local Industry Action Plan for Ulos fashion industry in Samosir was formulated. A variety of support activities have been rendered since then with an aim to exploit the local tourist and high-end markets through facilitating development and promotion of Ulos-applied handicrafts and fashion products. These activities have begun to generate, though still small in number, success cases such as advent of business transactions and start-up of the new businesses. An Ulos weaver and a tailor started their own business of Ulos-applied handicraft products. Further, the tailor has opened an outlet to sell the products under her own brand, while selling the products in several local hotels and shops on a consignment basis. In addition, several Ulos weavers and tailors have jointly begun to deliver almost 130 Ulos-applied handicrafts (including bags, cases, hairdressing items, accessories) to various hotels/ shops in Samosir and Medan for consignment sales.

When starting the implementation of the action plan, Ulos weavers were merely undertaking weaving for orders commissioned by brokers. In other words, they did not have any experience in conducting business activities including product development and marketing. Under this circumstance, the Local Working Group (LWG), Dinas Industry, Trade and Cooperatives in Samosir in particular, have actively rendered supports for, among others, enhancement of processing (tailoring) skills required for handicraft-making, identification of potential buyers/ sales channels, and implementation of a series of marketing activities. These initiatives by the both sides of the supporters and producers have brought about the above-mentioned success cases, which may be acclaimed taking into account the initial conditions of the industry.

LWG is now earnestly attempting to reinforce such success cases and expand them to other producers. The LWG has been reviewing lessons learned from the support activities facilitated so far, and is revising contents of the training and technical guidance scheduled further in the action plan, while requesting the Ministry of Industry to provide additional training in view of accelerating expansion of the success cases. In addition, the LWG will support formation of a joint business group of the target Ulos producers in order to encourage their entrepreneurship. With recognition that an accumulation of small success cases is the effective means to involve additional producers, the LWG will continue to facilitate the Ulos fashion industry in Samosir.

An outlet opened by a Ulos producer

Handicraft products marketed through a local hotel