Karaja Sumba

Threads of Resilience, empowering women through weaving.

When I arrived in Sumba for my work with the Sumba Hospitality Foundation, I was keen to learn more about the rich history of ikat weaving on the island. I soon came across Karaja Sumba, a social enterprise founded by Asty Kulla. Through weaving, Karaja empowers girls and women while preserving the island’s natural environment and cultural heritage.

When I first visited the village of Letehakapuna in Lamboya, I was overwhelmed by the beauty and simplicity, the openness of the weavers and the beauty of their work. When I met Asty and learnt about her vision, I knew that I wanted to contribute to the Karaja community and at the same time enrich my work on durability. Ikat is often passed down from one generation to the next, which is an example of how garments and textiles are made to last.

Together with Asty, we came up with a new visual identity, designed a website and pushed storytelling to achieve better visibility. At the same time, I had the privilege of meeting some of the weavers, experiencing parts of the ikat weaving process and integrating their vision of craftsmanship into my understanding of garment durability within a just circular transition.

Just as she, together with the weavers, makes the cultural heritage last, I also see my contribution to her organisation as long-lasting as well.

Explore the Karaja Sumba website, or be part of their online community.