Merdi sihombing

MERDI SIHOMBING leads the resurfacing of one of Indonesia’s traditional textile, the ULOS from North Sumatra region (of the Batak tribes). Known to many generations of Indonesians as one of the famous textiles from Sumatra, ULOS and its preservations have been receiving support for a very long time. But in the care of Merdi’s talented hands, the ULOS has stolen the attention of many. His persistence and focus has elevated this unique textile from his homeland of North Sumatra into a work of art full of spirit and artistic design.

For more than 15 years, Merdi Sihombing has been a prominent figure on the map of sustainable fashion, and worked in various community development projects throughout Indonesia. His fashion exploration inspired him to work with traditional communities. His observation began by studying the process of manual/hand spinning cotton fibers into thread, followed by understanding the importance of the quality and the length of thread in traditional textiles.

He is also obsessed in mastering the excellence of Indonesia’s hand woven traditional garments. He collaborated with near-extinct Weaver masters, artisans who are like hermits who live for and work on hand woven. They are the living chest of traditional treasure. In this heavenly traditional realm, Merdi explores textile with modern innovation and brought textile manufacturers from their conventional practices into a bit of controversial works.

Responding to the enlightenment he received by following his love into tradition, Merdi continues playing on fabrics that are not only aesthetic, but also the artistic. He constantly traces the main thread from the traditional textile to Hughes quality textile. In his quest, which stands on the effort to preserve the cultural heritage, Merdi has represented both the tangible and the intangible in his development works. His creations on natural dye and the authentic traditional symbol are not only relevant in the Batak culture, but also significant as an effort in the sustainability effort in Indonesia’s age of contemporary textiles.

His observation began in studying the process of hand spinning cotton fibers into thread, followed by understanding the importance of the quality and the length of threads in traditional textile. He is also obsessed in mastering the excellence of Indonesia’s hand woven traditional garments. He collaborated with near-extinct Weaver masters, artisans who are like hermits who live for and work on hand woven.
They are the living chest of traditional treasure. In this heavenly traditional realm, Merdi explores textile with modern innovation and brought textile manufacturers from their conventional practices into a bit of controversial works.

Responding to the enlightenment Merdi’s has received by following his love into tradition, he continues with playing on fabrics that are not only aesthetic but also artistic. He constantly traces the main thread from the traditional textile to the Hughes quality textile.

In his quest, which stands on an effort to culture preservation, Merdi has represented both the tangible and the intangible in his development work. His creations on natural dye and the authentic traditional symbol are not only relevant in the Batak culture, but also significant as an effort in sustainability in the contemporary age.

Now Merdi is the CEO of Merdi Sihombing Foundation and CEO of PT. Eco Fesyen Indonesia (Eco Fashion Indonesia).