Woven Cloth Koffo Origin Sangihe Will Be Revitalized

SANGIHE – Sangihe District Government declared its full support to Cindy Wowor as Cofo’s founder to revitalize the extinct Koffo woven fabric.

Revitalization is done through development and preservation using cotton and other modern materials by maintaining Koffo’s original decorations as well as new modifications developed as original in the past.

“The government of Sangihe Regency gives Cindy Wowor full support and support to revitalize Koffo woven fabric again, especially Koffo woven fabric is one of the 33 traditional fabrics that have been recognized by the Government as the Wealth of Culture of No Objects and its stipulation through the Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture RI, “said Regent Sangihe Jabes Gaghana, Tuesday (22/11/2017).

This support complements Koffo woven fabric after receiving a green light from North Sulawesi Governor Olly Dondokambey to revitalize koffo woven fabrics from the extinct district of Sangihe.

“With regard to that, I ask the Department of Tourism, the Department of Industry and Trade and the Department of Agriculture to create a program in 2018 in order to support revitalization efforts again and if there could be a program to make one of the villages in Sangihe District as a center of woven production Koffo fabric, “said Jabes.

Koffo woven fabric production center in Sangihe Islands Regency will be optimized to improve Koffo fabric woven culture from society and also can improve society welfare besides that also village will become one of tourism destination in area.

Responding to that support, Cindy Wowor explained Cofo’s plan to set up a production center for woven fabric of koffo in Sangihe.

“In connection with the plan Sangihe Pemkab to open koffo fabric production centers, it also has become a program of Cofo. Next year we plan to establish Koffo Woven Fabric Production Center which is planned in Lenganeng Village, North Tabukan Subdistrict, “said Cindy.

Meanwhile, Head of Public Relations of the North Sulawesi Provincial Government, Roy Saroinsong, explained that many people do not know that in North Sulawesi there was koffo woven fabric which has been known and developed since 1519. Koffo fabric weaving is made or done by sons and daughters of the king in Sangihe Talaud which is sarangsen kahiwu and its raw materials are taken from abaca banana tree fibers or Sangihe Talaud people call it hote / rote and Manado people call banana manila or kofi sangi for Minahasa.

This koffo cloth can be seen in Jakarta National Museum, Jakarta Textile Museum, Culture Museum of North Sulawesi Province even at Swiss National Museum.

“Koffo Sangihe Talaud woven weaving is shaped according to woven samples and by using natural dye weaving techniques from local villages and producing decorative motifs based on traditional shapes and symbols,” he said.

Koffo woven fabrics are worn by the Sangihe Talaud people both male and female with similar-looking damask motifs of single colored flowers.On top of his new pants, long trousers to heel, men wear a straight canvas dress like a toro dress called manlier behavior, the more the clothes dragged the ground the more prestigious clothes. while the head of the head used is paporong or Koffo cloth with ornamental looms small and folding the headband so that looks elegant and authoritative.

For centuries Koffo Sangihe Talaud weaving activities and finally stalled in 1970. This is due to the emergence of cotton and textile trade from abroad is so great.