Name: Freddy & Hendra

Location: Bandung City

Specialist materials: Bamboo & Rattan

Products: Tableware

Links [if available]: https://www.bana.id/ https://instagram.com/bana.nusantara?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Bana Nusantara, a bamboo craft brand, was formed from a collaboration between two people, Mr. Freddy as a product designer who is very concerned about the precision of his products, and Mr. Hendra as a bamboo craftsman from Tasikmalaya, who is very concerned about neatness in creating his products. Mr. Freddy felt that Mr. Hendra has good skill so it would be a shame if it is only used to make market products that prioritize quantity over quality. Therefore, they decided to cooperate to make products by combining the visualization of Mr. Freddy's designs and the handiwork of Mr. Hendra. The bamboo used for handicrafts is usually one-year-old bamboo, but it all depends on the product to be made. Bamboo that is good for making crafts is usually still green. It makes a loud sound when it is hit, and there are spots that can be seen on the hump. For the collection of bamboo, Mr. Hendra said that in Tasikmalaya, bamboo felling is usually done from 09.00 AM to 12.00 PM. This is because the water content of the bamboo has dropped and the water is kept under the tree, so it will not be heavy when it is cut and transported. There are several bamboo processings. For example, the 'ngaraut' process, which is a way to produce thin bamboo. First, the bamboo logs are sliced and made thin with a machete. Then, the bamboos are shaved to make them smoother in texture. Next, they are soaked for the preservation process. After that, the bamboos are dried in the sun before being processed into crafts. Bamboo is indeed the main material in Bana Nusantara handicrafts, but usually one craft is not made from 100% of bamboo. "The concept of our products is always not pure with one material and bamboo remains the foundation. It is mated with other materials," said Mr. Freddy. Mr.Freddy and Mr.Hendra prefer to maintain the original color of the bamboo. They often refuse customers who ask for their bamboo to be colored. "We refuse a lot of clients when they ask the bamboo to be colored, because the value of our products is in the purity of the bamboo." This is also because in the production process, the bamboo has already gone through the vulnerability stage. Vulnerability in bamboo is when the bamboo fibers become thin and damaged so that it can be broken easily. By adding dye to the bamboo, it can make the damage even worse. According to Mr.Hendra, in each region, bamboo craftsmen have their own tools and methods, and this affects the results of their products. This is an advantage for Bana products, because the handwork and the knowledge possessed by the craftsmen are actually more advanced than machines. The handwork of the craftsmen are more precise so they can treat bamboo better than machines.