From Ntobo to the World: How a Village Woman Wove Hope into Every Thread

When the sun begins to dip behind the hills of Bima, the click-clack of wooden looms fills the air. Mothers sit side by side, chatting as their hands move in perfect rhythm. Children run across the dusty yard, clutching rolls of colorful thread like tiny treasures.

For many in Ntobo—a small village in West Nusa Tenggara—this scene is no longer a picture of survival but of pride. The soft hum of weaving that once echoed through their homes has become the heartbeat of a new economy.

The bright natural dyes give the fabric a charm of its own (Photo: efenerr)  

At the center of this quiet revolution stands Yuyun Ahdiyanti, a mother of three whose determination turned a fading tradition into a source of strength and recognition.

Weaving the threads of change

Five years ago, Ntobo was struggling. Generations of weavers had poured their hearts into Tembe Nggoli, the handwoven sarong unique to Bima, but their art barely paid the bills. Middlemen bought their fabrics cheaply, leaving little reward for the long hours spent at the loom.

Yuyun, who grew up surrounded by that sound of gedog—the rhythmic clatter of wooden looms—knew this story too well. “I often saw mothers weaving from morning until night, but their income was so small. Yet what they made was a work of art,” she recalled.

Her words echo the deep frustration that once hung in the air of Ntobo: time and talent spent, but little recognition earned.

A leap of faith

Then came 2015—the year Yuyun decided to change the tune. With nothing more than a smartphone, a patchy internet connection, and a spark of courage, she began taking photos of her family’s woven works. The bright colors, the intricate motifs, and the proud hands behind them—all captured in simple snapshots.

The dazzling shine and captivating motifs of Tembe Nggoli. (Photo: GNFI)

She uploaded the photos on Facebook under the name “Yuyun Kaen Tenun Bima.” What happened next was beyond imagination. The posts went viral.

“I was shocked,” Yuyun laughed. “Suddenly many people wanted to order, even though I just wanted to show the mothers’ work from our village.”

The orders started pouring in, not just from Bima but from across Indonesia. In a world where trends come and go like the wind, Tembe Nggoli had found its moment to shine.

The birth of UKM Dina

Sensing the tide turning, Yuyun took a leap and founded UKM Dina, a small business that became a community movement. To outsiders, it might look like just another weaving shop. To the women of Ntobo, it became a second home.

“Dina is a place,” Yuyun said firmly. “A place where we help each other and grow together.”

Yuyun Ahdiyanti weaving the signature cloth of Ntobo. (Photo: ntbsatu.com)

She used her first profits not for herself, but to support fellow weavers—offering small loans, sourcing raw materials from local producers, and helping design modern patterns that still honored their roots. More importantly, she took over marketing, freeing the weavers from dependence on middlemen.

“I want all weavers in our village to have the same chance. If one moves forward, everyone does too,” she said.

Today, every large order that comes in is shared among hundreds of weavers. Each Tembe Nggoli carries not only beauty but also the dignity of shared labor.

From a village craft to a digital movement

Thanks to Yuyun’s initiative, Tembe Nggoli now travels far beyond the island of Sumbawa. UKM Dina employs over 200 weavers and 15 tailors, with a monthly turnover of IDR 100–300 million. Its Facebook page has more than 11,000 followers, making it one of the most active weaving communities in the region.

For Yuyun, these figures are just numbers on paper. The real reward lies in the smiles she sees every day. “The happiest thing is when I see mothers smiling, able to buy new shoes for their kids from their weaving income,” she said.

Yuyun with the handwoven fabrics produced by UKM Dina. (Photo: GNFI)

What’s even more rewarding is that the threads of Tembe Nggoli have also reshaped the lives of women in Ntobo. Many who once planned to migrate abroad as domestic workers now choose to stay home, weaving their livelihoods close to family. The looms have become their passports to independence.

Her pride extends beyond economics—it’s cultural preservation in motion. Weaving, once seen as an “old person’s job,” has become cool again. “Now many junior and high school students are learning. Even a fifth-grader can finish one piece of cloth!” she said proudly.

The younger generation is now taking up the loom not out of necessity but love—a sign that heritage, when given meaning, can thrive in modern times.

Small gallery, big dreams

Not far from her home stands a modest 2x6-meter gallery. From the outside, it looks simple. Inside, it’s a sanctuary of color and pride.

Here, the soft reds from mengkudu roots, the golden yellows from turmeric, and the calm blues from tarum leaves shine under natural light. Every pattern—samobo, satoko, kakando—tells a story of prayer, nature, and endurance.

Yuyun’s gallery welcomed a visit from Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno (Photo: GNFI)

Yuyun has turned this space into a workshop where young people learn weaving and understand the meaning behind every thread. She also partners with local universities to study eco-friendly dyes using local plants. “I want our weaving to stay alive and kind to nature. Because nature is the source of our colors,” she explained gently.

Each fabric takes around ten days to finish, sometimes longer. But Yuyun never rushes anyone. “Each cloth needs time and heart. That’s what makes it precious,” she said.

Recognition woven in hard work

From those humble beginnings, Yuyun’s name has traveled far. Her group has won multiple awards: Model Artisan Group, OVOP (One Village One Product) Star 2, and Inspirational SME.

In 2024, she received the prestigious 15th SATU Indonesia Award from PT Astra International for entrepreneurship—honoring her success in uplifting her community through traditional art.

Yuyun among the winners of Astra's SATU Indonesia Awards in 2024 (Photo: GNFI)  

It’s no small feat for a woman who never went to college. As Bima’s Tourism Office head, M. Natsir, once said, “Tembe Nggoli keeps people warm when it’s cold, and cool when it’s hot.” Its character reflects the resilience of Ntobo’s women—strong in every season, steady as a mountain.

Beyond the loom

In the twilight hours, as the golden light fades and the evening breeze whispers through the palm trees, Yuyun often sits on her terrace watching the women work. The looms’ rhythm continues—click clack—a steady pulse that tells the story of rebirth.

Ntobo is no longer just a name on the map. It’s a living testament to how tradition can power transformation. What started as restlessness became empowerment; what began as a small Facebook post became a symbol of hope.

The spirit of empowerment that Yuyun continues to ignite. (Photo: GNFI)

“Weaving is not just about making cloth,” Yuyun said softly. “It’s how we tell stories. How we survive. And how we give thanks.”

Every Tembe Nggoli that now finds its way to Jakarta, Sumatra, or even abroad carries more than color—it carries the soul of a village that refused to fade away.

From Ntobo’s quiet corners, Yuyun and her community continue to weave their dreams, thread by thread, proving that when women rise, the whole village rises with them.

After all, as the old saying goes, “a single thread may seem fragile, but when woven together, it can hold the weight of the world.”