We want to work with people who truly care about their craft and who run small family businesses that we can really grow with and support. We find it very important that everyone feels involved and can bring their own ideas into the process. That’s what makes working together so meaningful. In my first month I have met some amazing people who are now part of our team.
Ibu Wayan in Denpasar
When I arrived in Bali, there had been a big flood in Denpasar just a few days earlier. I told my friend Made that I wanted to help somehow, and she said she knew some families who were affected and that we could make food packages for them. So we went to the traditional market and bought rice, oil, noodles, and eggs, and brought the packages to several families, including Ibu Wayan.
Ibu Wayan lives with her husband and daughter, and next door lives her son with his wife and their two children. When I arrived at her house, I saw sewing machines, which made me very excited. I asked her, “Ibu, can you make a sample of this batik bag that I have?” I really hoped she could, because this was exactly the kind of partner we were looking for; a small family business where we could truly make an impact on each other’s lives. Now I see Ibu Wayan almost every week, and we have built such a good relationship that it almost feels like family. For example, I was there to celebrate her grandchild’s birthday.
We also had so much fun creating the video together. Ibu Wayan told me she was very shy, but she did an amazing job. We also filmed at the beach, and she told me it had been 20 years since she last went to the beach. She said she enjoyed it so much, and that was a really special moment for me.
Batik from Java
In my second month, I traveled to Java, Yogyakarta and Solo, to find batik fabrics for our first collection. One of the first things I did was go to a coffee shop and ask which areas I should visit to find batik factories. Also, I was looking for a videographer because we wanted to make a video about the batik process. By coincidence, there was a videographer, Mikael, sitting in that coffee shop. We started talking, planned a shooting date, and suddenly I had five days to find the perfect location to film.
I started taking Grab rides around the city, and one day a very friendly driver named Didi picked me up and started showing me around Yogyakarta. I asked him, “Didi, would you like to take me to batik shops and small factories over the next few days?” I could see his eyes light up since this wasn’t a normal ride, but a small adventure for both of us.
During those days, I found so many beautiful batik fabrics and learned so much about the craft. Then, on the fourth day, I found a small batik factory. It was actually the home of a family business that had existed for many years. I asked if we could film there and if I could order batik for our business. She didn’t speak English, but she smiled and said yes.
On the filming day, Mikael came with his girlfriend Mey, who helped us translate. That was the moment I discovered that we could actually customize our batik by choosing the patterns and colors ourselves. I felt so happy and proud that I had found another small family business to work with. They told us they were very happy to collaborate with us, which was amazing!
The Grab drivers who became our heroes
When I go to Denpasar, I actually really enjoy taking Grab rides and chatting with the drivers. That’s how I met Eddy two years ago and Adi this year. They drove me a few times, and over time we built a real connection. I think it’s very important to show genuine interest in people, and that’s something I really value in life — and especially here in Bali.
Over time, they became my regular contacts whenever I needed to go to Denpasar for the tailor or other appointments. They are always ready to help, and they also help us with different parts of the process, which means a lot to us. Last November, when Nikky was here for two weeks, the four of us spent many days together in Denpasar, and we had so much fun. What started as simple Grab rides turned into real friendships, and that’s something very special to me.
