unri.ac.id Even during this Covid-19 pandemic, University of Riau (UNRI) researchers continue to innovate and improve community service. This brought Dr Ninik Nihayatul Wahibah MSi, a lecturer or researcher at UNRI from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) together with the team to immediately develop a strategy by observing the problems experienced by the community, including problems arising from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic which has caused income and reduced income. workforce in Indonesia.
The eco-friendly trend, by venturing into the fashion world, is considered very supportive during the current pandemic. "This opportunity can be utilized by the community, both those with a batik background or not, such as the form of handicrafts in the form of fabrics with leaf motifs with ecoprint techniques, namely using natural dyes," said Ninik to unrinews, Saturday (25/7/2020).
Ninik, said that the community can produce using the ecoprint technique which is quite unique, namely replicating leaves into cloth. The result, a fabric with its own artistic value, ecoprint is a technique of transferring the shape and color of plant materials through direct contact of plant materials with organic media.
“The process of making ecoprints is simple and easy. We take a leaf, put it on the fabric and make the desired pattern. Then cover the cloth with cloth again to produce a color pattern. After that, it is rolled to lock the color. And finally, steam it for up to two to three hours so that the results from the ecoprint produce a good pattern,” he said.
Cultivate and develop ecoprints that have not been noticed by many other crafters. Gradually, he pushed to be able to develop ecoprints which are now increasingly popular.
“Natural materials that can be used are flowers, plant skins, leaves, onions and others. So this ecoprint can use plants from the surrounding environment," he said.
He admitted that he was interested in developing environmentally friendly wastra because of the high price. The high value, according to him, is due to the increasing popularity of ecoprint clothing. Global warming and being environmentally friendly is a massive campaign recently, especially at UNRI.
This concept has been practiced by Ninik with the Dra Atria Martina MSi team, Dr rer nat Delita Zul MSi, Dr Yulminarti MSi, and Geovani Meiwanda S Sos MPA when carrying out community empowerment activities in Tarai Bangun Village, Tambang District, Kampar Regency through eco printing applications as an effort to develop the economy. creative on Thursday 23 July 2020.
"Hopefully with this ecoprint technique, it can motivate people to be more creative in developing business ideas and can advance the community's economy," said Ninik. (wendi. photo: special) ***
