Patchwork hutment also produces typical Sundanese products, namely totopong and pangsi, which are made from a collection of patchwork pieces and formed into patterns that are unique, attractive, useful and have selling value.

Bogor, West Java (Indonesia Window) – Patchwork hutment (locally known as Kampung Perca) in Indonesia’s Sindang Sari village, Bogor city, West Java province, is known as a center for craftsmen of patchwork-based products.

The products include clothes, skirts, bags, wallets, tissue holders, hanging towels, doormats, books, travel mats, and various other accessories.

The Patchwork hutment also produces typical Sundanese products, namely totopong and pangsi, which are made from a collection of patchwork pieces that are formed into patterns that are unique, attractive, useful and have a selling value.

To introduce the products made by Patchwork hutment, students of London School of Public Relations (LSPR) Jakarta held an activity titled Perca Fest (Patchwork Fest), which was held on June 25, 2023 in the hamlet to create business opportunities for the local people.

Head of the Family Welfare Empowerment (locally known as its abbreviation of PKK) of Sindang Sari village, Nining Sriningsih, expressed her hopes and responses regarding Patchwork Fest.

"My hope is that the patchwork festival can be a motivation, especially for mothers in Kampung Perca and all Sindang Sari residents in general," she said.

The festival is also expected to generate ideas and innovations that can further advance the hutment, Nining said, adding that this activity could introduce its products more widely.

The first activity began with the performance of traditional dance of Tunggul Kawung from Edas Art village.

The event was also supported by a mini talk show under the theme 'The Importance of Supporting Patchwork Waste Management' which was attended by a supervisor for craftsmen in the hamlet Eny Wulan and local fashion designer brand Adrie Basuki who has collaborated with the hamlet.

The mini talk show was held in the hope that the people know the potential of the Patchwork hutment, so that they are interested in and participate in managing their hamlet.

The second activity began with remarks delivered by Bogor Mayor Bima Arya who talked about the Patchwork Festival.

Bima Arya said, “Kampung Perca is very cool because it is able to collaborate with LSPR students in holding the festival. I thank LSPR and everyone for organizing an event like this, and in the future I hope to hold events like this more often”.

"An event like this will open a field of fortune, especially for MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises). The hope is that in the future, the existence of Kampung Perca would become more well-known throughout Indonesia," he added.

The third activity was in the form of a fashion show competition which was attended by the hamlet people that displayed their handicraft products.

The next activity is a fashion shock event by involving LSPR students as models who displayed products made in collaboration between the hamlet and the native Bogor batik entrepreneur, Handayani Geulis.

The activity was followed by a photography competition and an MSME bazaar participated in by local entrepreneurs.

The Patchwork Fest is one of the projects given by four LSPR lecturers with subjects such as Creative Production and Publicity, Public Relations Communication Technique, Community Development and Public Relations Program an Evaluation.

The LSPR held the project to make students ready to have hands-on experience and skills before they work.

Kampung Perca was established in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic occurred which caused an increase in the number of unemployed people in the Sindang Sari village.

Therefore, Nining and tailor Mardianto in Sindang Sari village as well as local people jointly created business opportunities from their potential.

Editing by Indonesia Window