Did you know that Indonesia is one of the world's largest clothing manufacturers? Despite that though, less than 2 per cent of its garment and textile workers most of whom are women are paid a livable wage. Looking to change this is local social entrepreneur Denica Riadini-Flesch.
In 2016 after graduating as an economist in the Netherlands and returning to Indonesia to work as a development economist and consultant to the World Bank - she realised that women in rural areas needed fair work and founded SukkhaCitta ("happiness" in Bahasa Indonesia), a social enterprise that sells high-quality, traditionally crafted clothing to customers in more than 30 countries via its website and various retailers. Besides ensuring that the female artisans behind the garments receive a fair income, she has built craft schools where young women are taught business skills and environmental stewardship education. In some craft schools, young mothers can also become apprentices to older, more experienced artisans. This mentorship is key in SukkhaCitta's model for cultural regeneration, replicating the traditional craft lineage previously passed on from mothers to daughters.
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