Garut wants its leather to rival Italy: support for waste treatment machines and LPDB funding
Garut has long been known as a centre of leather craft, and there is news from there that leather artisans should read. Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono has pledged to support the modernisation of Garut's leather industry, from waste treatment technology to funding through LPDB (the Revolving Fund Management Institute), so that the quality of Garut leather can match Italy's.
The pledge came after he visited the Piazza Firenze MSME centre in Garut on Thursday, 15 January 2026. According to the reports, the centre is considered to have brought local leather quality up to international standards. On tanning waste, the long-standing problem of this industry, the government plans to help finance waste treatment machines and to encourage cooperatives to modernise their tanning machines with LPDB revolving funds.
Piazza Firenze is run by the Koperasi Kulit Artisan Indonesia (Indonesian Artisan Leather Cooperative). It combines Garut leather products with Italian-style architecture, along with food tenants, workshops and training. Designer Poppy Dharsono, one of its founders, welcomed the support and stressed that the large domestic market should be the priority, even though exports are challenging. The cooperative keeps training Garut's craftspeople.
Garut's deputy regent, Luthfianisa Putri Karlina, said the centre is changing the face of local tourism and attracting visitors, especially from Jakarta, who are looking for quality products. She also urged that Garut leather products be packaged more premium. Piazza Firenze itself only turned one year old on 15 January.
What I like about this news is that the focus is not only on selling products but also on the chain behind them: tanning, waste, craftsperson training and packaging. The article does not mention the value of the funds or the number of machines, so I want to see how it plays out.
Source: ANTARA News
The pledge came after he visited the Piazza Firenze MSME centre in Garut on Thursday, 15 January 2026. According to the reports, the centre is considered to have brought local leather quality up to international standards. On tanning waste, the long-standing problem of this industry, the government plans to help finance waste treatment machines and to encourage cooperatives to modernise their tanning machines with LPDB revolving funds.
Piazza Firenze is run by the Koperasi Kulit Artisan Indonesia (Indonesian Artisan Leather Cooperative). It combines Garut leather products with Italian-style architecture, along with food tenants, workshops and training. Designer Poppy Dharsono, one of its founders, welcomed the support and stressed that the large domestic market should be the priority, even though exports are challenging. The cooperative keeps training Garut's craftspeople.
Garut's deputy regent, Luthfianisa Putri Karlina, said the centre is changing the face of local tourism and attracting visitors, especially from Jakarta, who are looking for quality products. She also urged that Garut leather products be packaged more premium. Piazza Firenze itself only turned one year old on 15 January.
What I like about this news is that the focus is not only on selling products but also on the chain behind them: tanning, waste, craftsperson training and packaging. The article does not mention the value of the funds or the number of machines, so I want to see how it plays out.
Source: ANTARA News
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