Housewives Sew for ‘Ibu Pertiwi’

KOMPAS/DAHLIA IRAWATI

Mashita (28), a resident of Pandanlandung Village, Wagir District, Malang Regency, East Java, Friday (10/4/2020), sewing a mask. Residents in the village get many orders for masks in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has destroyed many a livelihood in the country. In addition to posing a threat to people’s health, the disease has torn the economy and social life apart. Fortunately, at a time when “Ibu Pertiwi” (the motherland) is suffering, housewives have stepped up to the plate, sewing together the fabric of the nation.

In the midst of fear over COVID-19, some housewives don’t want to be carried away with sadness. Their maternal sense has arisen upon seeing the dazed expressions of fellow citizens without face masks.

Without much promotion, the housewives, who are members of the Mapaquilts patchwork community in Malang city, East Java, took the initiative to make face masks from cloth. When many people were not even thinking of cloth-made masks as an alternative the single-use masks, they had already sewn many to be distributed for free.

We just want to share with those who need it. Masks are expensive now.

Each member makes dozens of masks a day, which are handed out to janitors, street vendors, pedicab drivers and others in need.

Also read : Lessons from Quarantine at Kampung Hitu

"We just want to share with those who need it. Masks are expensive now. That\'s why we want to share by sewing masks, " Tiwuk Purwati (53), one of the members of Mapaquilts, said on Friday (10/4/2020).

Continued flow

They are still turning out cloths to this day, as there is still demand for them. Some don’t want to get masks from the community for free but pay for them instead.

"If anyone wants to buy them, we let them donate sincerely. The money will be used to make more masks,” she said.

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Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro

A woman wearing a mask when doing activities at BSD City Modern Market, Serpong, South Tangerang, Saturday (4/4/2020). The Covid-19 pandemic made residents wear masks in their daily activities in an effort to prevent Covid-19 transmission.

As more people have begun to make textile masks, Tiwuk and her friends are facing difficulty obtaining the elastic material they need. "You know, a roll of elastic cost only Rp. 35,000 in the past. Now it\'s hard to find them in Malang. If you buy them online, the price can reach Rp 300,000 per kg," said Tiwuk.

Elsewhere, too, people have started producing masks for donation. Textile enthusiasts in various parts of the country are doing the same thing. One of them is Jane Kurnadi (47), who lives in South Tangerang, Banten.

Jane began making and donating masks in early March. She started by sharing mask-making tips on Facebook. She also made a video tutorial on how to produce the healthcare product.

Initially, Jane and her two employees only made masks for themselves, but they soon found themselves making them for others too.

Also read : Physical and Mental Health During COVID-19

Jane, who has lupus, does everything at home. Since the second week of March, the three of them have produced free masks for various groups. Jane\'s efforts inspired a network of arts activists to launch similar initiatives, making free masks for others.

"Initially the work was done by three people (together with two workers), making 60 masks per day. Then, many were moved to make similar cloth masks, involving tailors around, itinerant tailors and anyone who has a sewing machine, “she said.

The tailors are involved in making masks, and they receive donations for their efforts from people paying for masks rather than accepting them for free. Jane’s movement has inspired housewives and many other people.

"I am very impressed, outside the hectic social media, apparently many people are willing to work for others. We did not expect that we suddenly received a donation of fine batik fabric for our mask production. I think, if everyone helps, the problem of a lack of masks will be a thing of the past, "said Jane.

DOKUMENTASI JANE

Testimonials for receiving masks from Jane

Opportunity

In a slightly different way, housewives in Pandanlandung village, Wagir district, Malang regency, East Java, also tried to "sew together” the finances of their families by making face masks.

At present, there are at least seven mask producers in Pandanlandung village. The opportunity to make face masks arose with the COVID-19 outbreak. Mask producers can receive orders for thousands of pieces.

Previously, some of the women worked at factories. Others worked as food vendors or were housewives, relying on their husbands for a living.

In fact, there were buyers from Taiwan,

Because of the pandemic, the food business has gone quiet, because people chose to stay at home, while factories have laid off workers. In Pandanlandung village there are dozens of factories engaged in various business lines.

The masks produced in Pandanlandung village have been bought by people from within and outside the country. "The street was quiet, so I stopped selling rice. For the time being, we make masks and sell them, also online. In fact, there were buyers from Taiwan, "said Mashita (27), a mask maker from Pandanlandung village. In a day, Mashita can make at least 500 masks.

The Covid-19 pandemic has indeed devastated various aspects of life of “Ibu Pertiwi” (the motherland). However, those housewives have set an example by not staying silent. They use their hands, sewing the “wounds” of society for the sake of others.