Woven Product Differentiation for Enhancing the Economic Welfare of a Women's Weaving Community in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Abstract

Traditional ikat weaving in Malaka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, is a cultural heritage with considerable economic value. However, women weavers continue to face challenges related to production technology, product diversification, marketing, and financial recordkeeping. This community service program aimed to strengthen the capacity of the Mama Penenun Kasih Tolong Community in Malaka Regency through product differentiation and improved business management. The program involved twenty participants and was implemented over eight months through socialization, training, technology application, mentoring, and evaluation. The activities included the provision of one non-machine loom, two electric sewing machines, and one overlock machine, accompanied by training in product development, digital marketing, and the separation of personal and business financial records. The results demonstrated an improvement of approximately fifteen percent in participants' knowledge, with average scores increasing from sixty-six in the pre-test to seventy-five in the post-test. The community successfully developed three differentiated woven products, namely woven-combination clothing, hats, and bags. Furthermore, the production time required to complete one woven fabric decreased from approximately four weeks to three weeks, indicating a twenty-five percent improvement in production efficiency. In digital marketing, the community established one online store and developed five promotional content materials. Participants also demonstrated an improved understanding of financial management, particularly in separating personal and business financial records. Overall, these findings suggest that integrating appropriate production technology, product innovation, digital marketing, and financial literacy can enhance the business capacity and economic sustainability of women-led weaving communities while preserving local cultural heritage.