Malaysia is a well known country for traditional arts and crafts.
With events like National Craft Day, it further promotes and preserves unique local cultures and provides an avenue for local talents to showcase their craft.
This year's event now happening at Kompleks Kraf Kuala Lumpur, sees more than 300 vendors and artists from all over Malaysia coming together to put their creations on display.
However, there is this notion that comes with traditional arts and crafts - that it can sometimes prove to be a challenge to sell, as many complain about the price, claiming it's too expensive.
Traditional craft pieces require meticulous craftsmanship to produce, over a period of time. It only makes sense that the price tag matches the hard work that he makers put into making them.
But how can we keep the cultural heritage alive if locals can't afford to buy locally made arts and craft? Is it true that artists grapple with sales, due to lack of support from locals who argue over the price?
Sinar Daily went to the National Craft Day 2022 to explore beautiful crafts and get up close with the artists.
In response to getting support from locals, an artist who creates traditional accessories from Sarawak through her business Kelingai Enterprise, said business has been due to the tremendous amount of support she received from locals, especially from Peninsular Malaysia.
"I lost my job during the pandemic and started making handmade furnitures. I attended National Craft Day 2020 to learn about every state’s unique heritage through the arts and crafts. After a year, I started my business along with my partner,” said Mohd Syukri Mohamad Radzi of MZS Woodworks enterprise from Kedah. Meanwhile, Mohd Rafi Barahim who sells artwork via Seni Tradisi Leba Kraf Sabah said the price range for his products is from RM300 to RM500, or could be higher depending on the size of the art piece.
He assures that locals are understanding when it comes to the price tag as they know the amount of work that goes into crafting each piece.
Mohd Faizuri from KZ Bakti Enterprise (Pahang) said he actually sold out on his handmade pestle and mortar.
A visitor of the event, Nur Intan Shafinas thinks it's a fair price to pay for the handmade crafts. "Sometimes the handmade crafts last longer than machine made items and I really appreciate their fine work put into every piece,” she said.
Another visitor and a former vendor of the event, Danial Egan said he feels locals are doing what they can to support and that they understand why the price can be higher than expected.
Locals can still visit National Craft Day 2022 until tomorrow, March 7 from 10am to 10pm.