Kotagede, a sub-district located in Yogyakarta, Province of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). This area is bordered by Bantul Regency in the north, east and south, and bordered by Umbulharjo District in the west.
Since ancient times, the indigenous people of Kotagede called Kalang people have the expertise to make wood, silver and gold carving crafts, so it is not surprising that later Kotagede became a center for beautiful silver crafts and widely known to foreign countries. Now Kotagede has even the silver crafts city as its trademark.
Hundreds of Kotagede residents depend on this silver craft for their livelihood. Just look, along this main road lined with shops selling Kotagede Silver handicrafts. The words ‘silver’ are printed on either side of Jalan Kemasa, Jalan Mondorakan, and Jalan Tegal-gendu.
Silver craftsmen in Kotagede are famous for their unique products, smooth and painstaking in working on their silver products to produce high-value works of art. Hundreds of types of silver crafts are produced by Silver Craftsmen, ranging from rings, earrings, brooches, miniature bicycles, pedicab, andhongs, ships and various other decorations.
The selling price of Kotagede Silver Handicrafts varies, starting with the cheapest brooch for an average of 10 thousand rupiahs, silver rings starting at a hundred thousand rupiahs, miniature tricycles of two hundreds thousand and fifty rupiahs, miniature andhongs of two hundreds thousand rupiahs. Some even cost tens of millions rupiah depending on the level of complexity and the amount of raw materials used.
In Indonesia itself, the craft industry has developed in a number of areas, such as Yogyakarta, Bandung, Jakarta, Solo, and Bali. Yogyakarta for example, the handicraft product industry is growing rapidly. Starting from batik, weaving, wood carving, traditional woven (ikat cloth) ceramic pottery to silver jewelry. However, creativity and innovation must continue to be improved by producers or the craftsmen of handicraft products, so that they can follow market demand.
Yogyakarta, is not only famous for its silver, but please note that there is also leather craft center. Manding is the main destination for tourists to look for various kinds of handicrafts made of leather to be used as souvenirs. Entering this craft center, you will be greeted with various stalls on the left and right of the road, there have been more than 100 leather craftsmen in the manding, since it was pioneered by three young manding men in 1947. Manding leather crafts are able to penetrate local and international markets. You can make it a center for leather crafts to buy souvenirs or your personal needs, at an affordable price.
There are various types of leather work in the manding, ranging from bags, shoes, wallets, jackets, belts and souvenirs made from leather. Prices for products in Manding itself range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of rupiah depending on the type of goods and the size of the item. All goods produced in this leather center mostly use cowhide, with creative hands and still using traditional techniques. The cowhide processed into high economic value products. Vintage bags, leather jackets, school bags, and export quality of pistol bags are the favorites and most sought after by tourists.
You can visit the leather manding center after traveling in Yogyakarta area, especially the Parangtritis beach which is one lane with this leather craft. This leather craft center is also not so far from zero kilometers Yogyakarta, you can buy souvenirs for your family at home. There is no charge to enter the Manding leather craft center. Manding leather craft had its heyday in the 1970s to 1980s.
–sh
