About - Rorokenes

The Story of Rorokenes Indonesia

What is Rorokenes Indonesia?

Rorokenes Indonesia is a local brand from Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. The name Rorokenes is taken from the Javanese language. Roro means Princess, while Kenes means agile and charming. Overall, the meaning of the Rorokenes brand name is a noble woman who is active, intelligent, and has a refined social awareness.

The Beginning of Rorokenes Indonesia Brand

Rorokenes was first launched in April 2014 by Syanaz Nadya Winanto Putri. Syanaz is a woman from Semarang who started Rorokenes business because of her love for a foreign leather bag brand. Starting from this, she then felt challenged to prove that Indonesia can also create genuine leather bag products with guaranteed quality and competitive prices. After Syanaz conducted a survey and learned the ins and outs of bags for months, Rorokenes Indonesia brand was born.

The main Products of Rorokenes Indonesia

Rorokenes is a brand that produces artisan woven leather bags. All of Rorokenes’ bags are handmade products that are made by order. Rorokenes guarantees that all works produced are made of 100% genuine leather using 90% domestic materials. The elegant and multifunctional design of the bag, wrapped in traditional Indonesian woven creations, are the characteristics of Rorokenes’ work.

Rorokenes offers a wide selection of leather bags for women and unisex. The main products of Rorokenes consist of clutches, tote bags, boston bags, shoulder bags, and backpacks. The names of bags by Rorokenes such as Kamandhaka, Srikandi, and Tenong Ayu are mostly taken from vocabulary or terms in local languages. This was done as the expression of Rorokenes’ love for Indonesian native culture.

Value of Rorokenes Indonesia

Rorokenes believes that a good business, in addition to having a good product, must also provide benefits for others, can help prosper the community, and must not destroy the nature. Therefore, Rorokenes has the tagline “Semarang artisan woven bag, exquisite handcrafted product meet with sustainability and ethical concept.”

Rorokenes’ commitment to help others is manifested by empowering community groups in Semarang and its surroundings actively. Regularly, Rorokenes holds skills training and collaborates with the Rorokenes cluster to produce woven leather bags. Up to now, there are three clusters that work together and they are supported by Rorokenes. The clusters consist of a group of tailors, a group of weavers, and a group of mothers with children with disabilities of cerebral palsy. The mothers who have children with disabilities have one thing in common. It is difficult for them to leave their children at home to work, while some of them are no longer young. Therefore, Rorokenes held a leather weaving training program for these mothers so that the results could be made into Rorokenes bags. So, by buying a Rorokenes bag, it means that you have given contribution to empower local communities, especially women.

Besides empowering the community, Rorokenes also collaborates with Pundi Perempuan managed by Indonesia for Humanity (IKa) and Komnas Perempuan to provide support for the women who became victims of violence. This support was born from Rorokenes’ concern for issues of violence and discrimination against women that often occur in society. Through Pundi Perempuan, Rorokenes wants to help by providing advocacy and create safe houses for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. In order to make the public become more educated about the issue of violence against women, Rorokenes always slips the Pundi Perempuan flyer in the bag that is sent to customers.

Rorokenes also collaborates with the Badan Amil Zakat Nasional (Baznas) of Semarang City by regularly providing assistance for those in need. This assistance was given especially to families affected by COVID-19 who are in Rorokenes cluster. Some of Rorokenes profits are allocated for social programs and community empowerment, including for both Baznas and Pundi Perempuan.

In addition, Rorokenes is trying to make genuine woven leather bag products that are environmentally friendly. Leather factories that are in collaboration with Rorokenes must be SNI certified, pass ISO, and have a tested waste management system.

Proses Pembuatan Tas Handmade Kulit Asli Rorokenes

Production Process of Rorokenes Indonesia Bags

To make a Rorokenes bag, first the craftsman will draw a master pattern on the colored leather sheet. The leather sheet is marked to be cut into woven strips. Each strip is measured up to millimeters for a neat and precise cut.

After the leather sheet is cut into small strips, the next step is the weaving process. Rorokenes woven leather is handmade by talented Rorokenes craftsmen. This weaving work requires time, persistence, patience and thoroughness so that the quality of the weaving is well preserved.

The woven leather sheet is then cut according to the master pattern. After that, the patterns will be put together in the sewing process. The seam distance, the stitch location, the quality, and the neatness are always considered as the part of quality control.

After sewing, the bag will be given a lining and inner layer, and a handle or short rope is attached according to the model. If that, then Rorokenes woven leather bag is ready to be put in a dustbag and neatly packed to be sent to you.