JASIN: When it comes to rattan products, what comes to mind are baskets and furniture, such as cupboards and chairs, normally in standard sizes.
However, for Zanurah Ramli, 55, producing small-sized or miniature rattan weaves is a real satisfaction and even a challenge for her and her husband, Mansor Md Dan, 56.
Zanurah, a handicraft entrepreneur, said she got the idea of making miniature rattan products a year ago when a customer asked her to make rattan-based children's toys.
"The customer from Penang sent us pictures and measurements for the toys he wanted, like spoons, frying pans and bowls.
"My husband and I were dumbfounded for a while, but we took on the challenge and made them. When we completed
the toy set, we sent photographs of the items to the customer, who was very satisfied."
Since then, Zanurah and Mansor have begun getting more orders for small-sized rattan products, which were easier to post to customers.
Mansor said despite the miniature size of the products, the quality was controlled by Kraftangan Malaysia.
"We use white rattan because it looks more natural and is the choice of most of our customers. The thickness of the rattan ranges from 1mm to 3.5mm and we get our supply from a factory in Selangor.
"Our fingers really hurt when we weave, more so when using thicker rattan, and it becomes more challenging when we apply weaving techniques," said Mansor, who started weaving rattan products at the age of 16.
As such, he said, they would weave in the morning, at night or in cooler weather as the rattan would be softer and more pliable, thus making weaving easier.
He said the weaving process involves three steps: the base, body and frame or stalk of the basket.
"The most important thing is the process of 'lagang' to create the shape of the weave, which depends on the length or size of the shape to be made. If it is not done right at this stage, the product will be lopsided."
As for the weaving process, the stages involved were "kelarai" weaving, regular and embroidered weaving, while the "lepih" process was a process of ending the weave on the edge of the product.
"If there is demand for coloured rattan, we will colour the rattan ourselves by boiling it in water with dye before drying it in the shade," he said.
He said creativity was also important in producing rattan weaves and inspiration could come unexpectedly.
"We made shoes for Christmas last year and the products were well received.
"The same goes for lamps, which can be custom-made in various sizes," he said, adding that children's toys were their main products.
Meanwhile, the MyCraft Shoppee, E-Kraf Bazar and CraftOnThe Go applications, were indirectly increasing and expanding the market for their rattan products, as well as for 10 other rattan entrepreneurs in Melaka.
"Alhamdulilah, the orders kept coming and we are fully booked until October. We had to reject some bookings because it is only the two of us working on the products." - BERNAMA