Nobody Left Behind at Kampung Jahit Maharrani

Women must be empowered and independent to contribute to solving societal issues. Empowered women are remarkable, as they possess a stronger instinct for understanding and addressing challenges in society.

Both women and men in a family should have the same chance to lift their family out of poverty. Because if the woman can work and contribute income to the family, it transforms family dynamics, positively impacts the community, and ultimately benefits everyone involved.

Many women, especially housewives, aspire to play a more significant role in bolstering the family economy. However, they often find it hard to get jobs as they are also responsible for their families. The desire to contribute economically left them torn between household responsibilities and career pursuits. After all, not all companies or employers want to hire married women.

I once heard a story from a friend who faced difficulties securing stable employment because of the limited opportunities due to her age and marital status. Despite her experience working for one of the banks in Jakarta, her personal background left her competitively disadvantaged. Her desire to support his family financially inevitably had to be buried.

This struggle is not unique to one woman, but a shared experience among most women in Padang, West Sumatra, particularly Simpang Koto Tingga, Kelurahan Pasar Ambacang, Kecamatan Kuranji. They find it challenging to earn an income commensurate with their abilities. Moreover, they do not have the privilege to access education, health, and decent work. Most of them work as farmers or stone crushers or are hired as maintainers in other’s rice fields. In fact, quite a few mothers are single parents in their area.

This disheartening reality inspired Elsa Maharrani to establish Kampung Jahit Maharrani, a community designed to uplift and empower the people of Padang, her beloved hometown, offering a promising future for all.

Elsa Maharrani: The Woman of Impact

Elsa Maharrani, the initiator of Kampung Jahit Maharrani | Credit: IG @elsamaharrani

Since 2016, Elsa, which this woman is usually called, has been a successful online reseller of many of Indonesia’s prominent clothing hijab brands. However, this success did not bring her the fulfillment she sought. She could have continued to earn profits and turned a blind eye to her surroundings, but something within her refused to let her. This woman who was born in 1990 felt a void, a sense of incomplete happiness, and she knew it was a call to make a meaningful impact on her society.

Inspired by one of the hadiths from Prophet Muhammad, SAW said that the best people are those most beneficial to humans; that is when she believed it was a call for her to impact her society.

Thankfully, Elsa’s husband was a pillar of support, fully backing her in her quest to create a clothing brand that would engage their local community. Apart from earning a living from this business, she also hoped to create sustainable jobs for the people around her and boost the local economy, which was struggling at the time.

In 2019, a brand of hijab clothing named Maharrani Hijab was launched, yet it was never effortless

Sewing Hope from The Outskirts of Padang City

Activities at Kampung Jahit Maharrani production house | Credit: IG @kampungjahitmaharrani

Elsa’s journey to establish Maharrani Hijab was filled with numerous challenges, yet it is precisely these trials that sparked hope for the local community. Her first hurdle was finding tailors willing to partner with her, as high wages in Padang made it challenging to afford skilled labour. Most tailors were used to working independently, making it financially unfeasible for Elsa to collaborate with them. She could have outsourced the work to more affordable areas like Bandung, but her mission to combine business success with community empowerment kept her grounded in Padang.

“Why should production be in Padang? West Sumatra’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product), including Padang, is relatively low compared to other regions. West Sumatra buys everything from Java. Fabric production and sewing are done in Java, and the clothes are brought to Padang. If everything is outsourced to Java, the money will not circulate in Padang,” Elsa explained. Elsa strives to ensure that money from the middle class flows to the lower-income groups in Padang, breathing new life into the local economy.

This fact is reflected in the data of Badan Pusat Statistic (BPS), which states that Gross Regional Domestic Income or Pendapatan Domestik Regional Bruto (PDRB), based on current prices according to business fields in Padang in 2019, was IDR 62.424,55 billion. Meanwhile, PDRB in the same category in Bandung in 2019 was IDR 288.460,88 billion.

Over time, Elsa’s unwavering determination paid off. Slowly, her partners grew from one to three, five, ten, and now sixty partners. This growth, fueled by the sustainable orders from Maharrani Hijab, has been further driven by the improving welfare of Elsa’s partners. Their success has inspired neighbours to join Kampung Jahit Maharrani, leading to a continuous increase in partners. One of the main advantages of joining Kampung Jahit Maharrani is its flexibility, allowing partners, who are mostly housewives, to sew from their homes and utilize their free time to earn additional income.

The sales of Maharrani Hijab are not just impressive, but they also directly contribute to the improved income of the local community members. As a result, the welfare of the partners has been increasing. Elsa is grateful for this achievement, as it reflects the success of her efforts to grow her business and uplift the community around her. Seeing her partners thrive has been a rewarding outcome of her commitment to both economic empowerment and sustainable growth.

Elsa shared that the average Maharrani Hijab partner earns around IDR 1.5 million monthly, with some even earning up to IDR 2.5 million, which surpasses the minimum wage in Padang and could reach IDR 4 million monthly if they focused solely on their work without any side jobs. This steady income growth reflects the growing hope and prosperity within the community, highlighting the positive impact of Elsa’s dedication to empowerment and sustainable development. Through her business, Elsa is sewing not just fabric but also a future full of hope for the people of Padang.

The Power to Empower

If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else. — Toni Morrison

Elsa Maharrani is mentoring one of the team | Credit: harianhaluan.id

At the start, not all Kampung Jahit Maharrani partners were proficient in sewing or could meet the standards of Maharrani Hijab products Elsa required. To address this, Elsa initiated a sewing training program in collaboration with the Department Tenaga Kerja (Disnaker). This partnership aims to enhance the tailors’ sewing skills and instil pride in their work. The partners can use their sewing machines. However, those needing replacements or who do not own a machine can borrow, or Maharrani Hijab can help with purchasing on credit without interest. This is where Elsa plays a crucial role, not only in delivering high-quality products to customers but also in committing her passion to empowering others.

On top of that, what distinguishes Kampung Jahit Maharrani from other empowerment programs is its innovative approach. In addition to sewing training, Elsa, a graduate of Public Health from Universitas Andalas Padang, leverages her background to organize Islamic spiritual coaching sessions every month and conduct health checks. These checks include essential measurements, such as weight, height, blood pressure, and blood sugar assessments, ensuring the holistic well-being of the partners.

Her background in public health has inspired Elsa to take an inclusive approach that addresses the economic needs and her team’s physical and mental health. She understands that family economic stability is vital in determining overall health. Elsa explained that she is currently working to improve the community’s economy, hoping that this will, in turn, raise their health and socio-economic standards.

She also emphasized that the system at Kampung Jahit Maharrani is not just about empowerment. It’s a sociopreneur model that provides partners with training and a source of income. After training, the partners sew products for the Maharrani brand, ensuring financial security. This model is designed to provide them with a sense of reassurance and stability, ensuring their financial well-being.

Through these programs and values, Elsa uses her “power” to empower by transforming Kampung Jahit Maharrani into more than just a sewing community; it becomes a supportive community where every member learns, grows, and contributes. With a spirit of resilience and collective achievement, everyone feels welcomed and involved, contributing to the success of the team and ensuring that nobody is left behind.

Embracing Diversity

Two men from the Maharrani Hijab team, Elsa Maharrani’s Muslim clothing business, work on creating clothing patterns in the workshop. | Credit: Kompas

Even though Elsa’s initial objective is to empower women in her area to help them contribute income to their families, her greater mission is to enhance the economy in Simpang Koto Tingga, Pasar Ambacang. That is why she did not limit the membership based on gender or ability. Instead, she offered equal opportunities to all, including men and people with disabilities, from different villages and sub-districts. This inclusive approach has led to the creation of a diverse and inclusive community in Kampung Jahit Maharrani. The total number of tailors who have joined the Kampung Jahit Maharani is 60, with 10 of them being men and 1 having a disability.

Elsa shared a touching story about the disabled tailor, “Her father was gone; she has a mother and a younger brother. Her mother, who had been the family’s sole breadwinner, unfortunately also suffers from diabetes. Now, she is the family’s only breadwinner. But with her income (from Kampung Jahit Maharrani), she can support her sister’s education and her mother’s medical needs.” This personal narrative underscores the transformative impact of Kampung Jahit Maharrani’s inclusive practices.

The woman born in Padang also pointed out that the enthusiasm of the disabled tailor is no less than that of their peers. Her unwavering dedication and spirit are uplifting and serve as a source of inspiration for Elsa in her mission to empower others.

Maharrani Hijab Goes Global

Elsa’s journey in building the Maharrani Hijab has been marked by perseverance and dedication. Despite the challenges, she has dedicated her time to expanding her brand beyond Indonesia and bringing it to the global stage. The international expansion of Maharrani Hijab is truly impressive. “Alhamdulillah, our products are now global. We have shipped them to Malaysia, where we also have resellers. Additionally, we’ve opened branches in Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong, with agents in those locations,” she shared.

Her efforts are proof of her belief that hard work will pay off. “We are grateful that our products can reach a global audience. We have also presented Maharrani at international events in Jeddah, Türkiye, Kazakhstan and Malaysia,” she added. This extraordinary achievement underscores her unwavering commitment to developing Maharrani Hijab and the undeniable truth that effort and perseverance will lead to success.

Elsa Maharrani poses with customers at the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) event in Malaysia in 2022 | Credit: IG @maharranitestimonyreal

Kampung Jahit Maharrani’s Contribution to SDGs in Indonesia

SDGs, or Sustainable Development Goals, are 17 global goals established by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 to create a better world by 2030. These goals cover various aspects of sustainable development, such as poverty eradication, quality education, gender equality, climate action, and reducing inequalities. Indonesia, a proud signatory, is among the 193 countries that endorsed this global development agenda at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.

Under the motto “Nobody left behind,” SDGs promote social, economic, and environmental well-being. This inclusive approach emphasizes that all countries and communities are valued and integral to achieving sustainable and inclusive global prosperity.

In alignment with these global goals, Kampung Jahit Maharrani in Padang, Indonesia, stands as a local model for achieving several SDGs related to gender equality, economic empowerment, and poverty reduction. This is proved by the endeavors Elsa brought to the community, which are not merely about sewing skills but more about empowering members of society from the community’s most vulnerable backgrounds and providing them with the tools to create sustainable income sources.

“It’s definitely beneficial. Before working here, I would scramble to find a loan whenever my child’s tuition fee was due for the semester. It was a huge stress,” shared Rina, one of Maharrani’s team members. Having a stable income now, she can support her child’s education without the financial strain.

Another team member, Susi Meiniyeti, a partner of Maharrani Hijab in Villa Tarok Village, shared a similar sentiment. She mentioned that her collaboration with Maharrani Hijab had greatly supported her family’s economy. Susi earns around IDR 1–1.5 million every two weeks, which she uses to help cover household expenses, as her husband works as a construction worker. Her story is just one of many that highlight the positive impact of the local initiative.

Susi Mainiati, one of Maharrani’s team members, completes an order. | Credit: Antara/Fandi Yogari

At Kampung Jahit Maharrani, team members are equipped with skills to improve their families’ economic situations and gain access to health services and spiritual support. A positive, community-focused environment ensures continuous growth and collaboration toward building a more prosperous society.

Appreciation for Contribution

Elsa poses with one of Maharrani Hijab products. | Credit: Antara/Fandi Yogari

Elsa’s efforts to create a sustainable community through Kampung Jahit Maharrani have earned her numerous prestigious awards, including the SATU Indonesia Award from PT. Astra International in 2020. Reflecting on her journey, Elsa highlighted how the failures she encountered along the way turned out to be blessings in disguise. She never imagined she would establish such a movement if she had not faced those challenges.

Elsa’s dedication to her cause extends beyond her community work. She frequently participates in seminars and talk shows, sharing her knowledge and inspiring stories of building a business that impacts society. Her commitment to spreading awareness is a valuable resource for those interested in social impact and sustainability.

“I hope more young people will care about each other in the future. It can have a positive impact on the environment. So it is not only towards themselves but also towards the environment. It also enables us to see the problems that exist in society today and provide solutions to these problems,” Elsa answered when asked what her hopes are for the next generations. Now, Elsa is working on opening new branches in Bandung as she moves to spread the spirit of empowerment to other areas.

#BersamaBerkaryaBerkelanjutan #KitaSATUIndonesia

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