7 Famous Handmade Leather Crafts Manufacturers Town in Indonesia

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Indonesia known as one of the largest producers of various kinds of leather-based products worldwide. Starting from shoes, bags, accessories and furniture made of leather found in the local market as well as for export. The basic leather materials used for these products also varieties from animal skins such as cowhide, sheep, deer, snake and horse skins. Those are also made from plants such as bark fiber, banana midrib, and water hyacinth.

Handicraft products from genuine leather are in great demand by local and foreign consumers because of their properties and characteristics of being heat resistant, good elasticity, good stretchability and chemical resistance. For examples for the manufacture of jackets, shoes, bags, gloves, hats and belts.

Launched from the Ministry of Industry website; The leather products and footwear industry showed positive performance. By the end of 2017, investment in this sector had reached Rp.7.62 trillion, a fourfold increase compared to the previous year.
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But do you know which areas or cities in Indonesia are well-known as the centre for home-based and largest producer of leather crafts? Here are 7 pieces of that data for you:

1. SUKAREGANG Village, GARUT (WEST JAVA)

Garut located in the province of West Java. The centre for home-made leather handicrafts is in an area called Sukaregang. According to the history, this area started producing leather crafts since 1930. The cold area forced the local using clothing made of leather to could withstand of cold weather.

The leather industry then developed rapidly in 1970 with the establishment of many large and small leather industrial factories in Indonesia, especially in the city of Garut. Currently, there are 330 tanning and leather processing business units spread across almost all corners of Sukaregang with an area of approximately 79 hectares.

The large business unit in it, apart from supplying leather procurement in the country, is also able to penetrate the export market abroad. Their produce are leather jackets, leather shoes, leather gloves, leather hats, leather bags and other accessories.
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2. MANDING Village (YOGYAKARTA)

Yogyakarta is one of the provinces on the island of Java out of 34 provinces throughout Indonesia. The centre for home-made leather crafts located in an area called Manding, a tourist village located on Jl. Dr. Wahidin Sudiro Husodo, Manding Village, Sabdodadi-Bandul Regency, Yogyakarta. The location which is only 15 kilometers from the centre of Yogyakarta is easy to reach with the characteristic of a large gate that reads “Manding Leather Handicraft Industry Centre” at the front of the road.

The production of leather handicrafts here is not only well known in domestic market but also penetrates foreign markets such as Middle East. Currently there are at least hundreds of leather craftsmen who still survive in the village of Manding with a total of approximately 40 leather craft showrooms. Various leather crafts produced, such as: bags, wallets, jackets, belts, and shoes.

The quality of the products offered by the craftsmen here is also very good. Even though they made traditionally, all products made in Manding village use 100% genuine leather so that they are equivalent to the quality of other branded leather products.
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3. TANGGULANGIN, SIDOARJO (EAST JAVA)
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Centre of the largest and most famous leather handicraft producer in East Java located in a sub-district called Tanggulangin. Several villages are included in this sub-district have traditional leather craftsmen for products such as wallets, bags, shoes, jackets, and belts. Custom product and model can also be adjusted to buyer's wishes using good of quality cow or sheep leather.

Purchases with small or large parties will be served at relatively cheap prices from market by around 100 local craftsmen there. In terms of quality, leather craft products from Tanggulangin are not inferior to other branded products. Even some of showrooms already have regular customers from abroad such as Malaysia, Brunei and several other countries in Southeast Asia.
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4. MAGETAN (CENTRAL JAVA)

Centre of leather craft industry in Magetan district is in Ngariboyo and the route to the Sarangan Lake tourist attraction. Precisely on Sawo street, Selosari village, about 1 km west of the city center of Magetan. Along the way on Sawo street, you will see rows of shops or leather craft showrooms. Leather products produced are wallets, leather bags, jackets, shoes and leather sandals.

The most famous products from Magetan are leather shoes which are traditionally made by craftsmen with models that follow times or market tastes. Leather processing in this area has been started since 1960 by local residents and can only be enjoyed by people from Magetan area and surroundings at that time. However, currently Magetan leather craft products are well known in the world with good quality and very affordable prices.
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5. MALANG (EAST JAVA)

Many leather craftsmen are found and scattered in Malang. Among them is the centre of leather craft industry in village of Dilem, Kecamatan Kepanjen, Gading Kasri village, Klojen, Pakis, Lawang, Lowokwaru and Kecamatan Turen. The prevalence of leather craftsmen in Malang requires you to be more observant in choosing quality products.

But all the quality of products offered are good with affordable prices. It is proven by consumers who come not only from people of Malang, but also from outside of the city and Java. Majority of products made here are leather shoes which is famous for not easily damaged and water resistant.
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6. CIBADUYUT, BANDUNG (WEST JAVA)

Bandung is the capital of West Java province. The city which is famous as a tourist area with the nickname "Paris von Java" also has a centre for home leather craft producers. The name of the area called Cibaduyut which is a sub-district city in South Bandung area. The most famous leather products from this area are leather shoes and bags. However, there are also many other leather craft products such as wallets, sandals, backpacks, belts and jackets.

There are selected leather craft products ranging from lowest quality to higher or equivalent to imported leather products at relatively affordable prices for large or small purchases. Many local and foreign customers make this area as their supplier of merchandise because of high quality and variety of models.
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7. SUKAWATI-GIANYAR, BADUNG, & TABANAN (BALI)

Who doesn’t know Bali? The province of Bali is a tourist city in Indonesia which already famous for panorama and culture throughout the world. In addition to tourism and handicrafts of silver jewelry, woven bamboo and antique furniture, Balinese leather crafts are also well known and have penetrated export markets such as to Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and other Asian countries.

You can design your own leather craft products such as bags, jackets and shoes while ordering raw materials have been determined and made production there. The largest leather production areas in Bali are: Sukawati-Gianyar, Badung and Tabanan. Various types of leather crafts are made with such designs according to the tastes of foreign consumers combined with local culture. So, it makes consumers interested because of considerely unique and affordable prices.
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Also read : The 8 Reason to Discover Jakarta - Bali and Indonesia with Your Own Private Driver

Those are the data for 7 cities as centre of famous leather handicraft producers in Indonesia which we collected as local guides. If you are interested investing in Indonesia as an importer or producer of leather-based handicrafts, the 7 cities above could be your guides.

Besides, its a good idea to develop cause of Indonesia rich in natural resources and quite cheap of labor cost. You can survey first and do business mapping in the area known as the centre for home-based producers and leather craft producers in Indonesia.
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Good luck!

Also read : Bali, World Most Popular Destination 2021 by Tripadvisor Traveler's Choice