Weaving dreams into reality: A young artisan’s journey to preserve tradition, mother’s legacy

Cecelia poses with her handcrafted traditional and contemporary woven bags.

By Wilfred Pilo

Packed with more than 100 intricately handcrafted baskets and bags, young artisan Cecelia Lerang travelled 818 kilometres from Miri to Kuching to showcase her creations at a weekend vendor market at Kuching Sentral.

The 28-year-old, who learned the art of handweaving from her mother, has been involved in selling family-made basket products since young. However, it was after the Covid-19 pandemic that she decided to pursue the craft more seriously as a profession.

In 2024, encouraged by friends and family, Cecelia took a further step to continue her mother’s legacy as a traditional basket weaver by establishing her own company to strengthen the marketing and sales of her products.

“Despite the competitive and challenging nature of the cottage industry, particularly in the specialised field of woven baskets, I am motivated to promote the continued growth of traditional handwoven crafts and encourage more young people to take up this skill.

“I also want to carry on my mother’s legacy and ensure these skills are not lost. I want to preserve and improve my craft to create products that reflect our traditional values and Sarawakian culture,” she said in an interview with DayakDaily.

Cecelia shared that she has always hoped to expand the market for her products and was encouraged when she came across Woo Woo Whimsy on social media, which was seeking arts and craft vendors to participate in an event in Kuching.

“I am grateful that event organisers are willing to support small cottage industry players like us. With Kuching offering a bigger market and more visitors, I am happy to share my work with those who appreciate handwoven bags,” she said.

Cecelia (right) introduces customers to her range of handwoven bags at Kuching Sentral.

Cecelia offers handwoven bags made from both polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and traditional rattan, giving customers options that suit their preferences.

“They are durable, artistic, and functional, featuring contemporary designs alongside traditional motifs that reflect the heritage of our ancestral craft,” she explained.

Describing her designs as simple yet elegant, Cecelia said the colours are carefully chosen to complement different styles and personalities.

“I know there is an international market for traditional woven bags, as they have become a fashion trend. I hope this will create more opportunities for small businesses like ours,” she said.

Her products are priced between RM15 and RM150, making them accessible to a wide range of customers.

As a member of the Penan community, Cecelia hopes that the work of local artisans will continue to gain recognition and appreciation.

“I believe young artisans like us want to be recognised and have a good future, especially the younger generation. We hope to reach markets far beyond our local communities, and I hope that dream will one day become reality,” she added.

For more information on her products, contact 012-894 0054. — DayakDaily