Producer Case Study: Budiana, Celuk
Budiana is based in Celuk, the heart of silver and gold production in Bali.
Arum Dalu Mekar first started working with Budiana in 1987. At that time he was helping his father in his workshop and learning the silver smith trade. Like the majority of artisans from Pande families, Budiana’s father is a member of a sub caste of blacksmiths whose knowledge of fire and metal has traditionally put them outside the usual caste hierarchy.
Budiana married and began working together with his wife: He would produce silver products and she would sell these, along with other handicrafts, to tourists.
Today, Budiana has his own workshop and his cooperation with Arum Dalu Mekar has
allowed him to raise capital to invest in new tools to help improve his capacity. When
Budiana is offered large orders he is happy to be able to pass some of the work onto
other members of his family.
Arum Dalu Mekar support and work together with Budiana in the fields of design, product development, marketing and financing. The relationship that has been developed between
the two parties means that Budiana can confide in Arum Dalu Mekar if he has personal or work-related problems. Arum Dalu Mekar is also able to offer advice on fair trade and
pricing, allowing the two parties to work together and achieve the best result.
One result of Budiana’s involvement in fair trade is that he has been able to send his two children to school and university. Meanwhile, he is eager to pass his knowledge as a silver smith on to his sons and the other children in the neighbourhood – in this way he hopes to encourage the next generations to take an interest in silver production, something that has long been a proud tradition in Budiana’s culture.
