Gedung Despro Lt 2 Kampus ITS Sukolilo, Surabaya 60111, Indonesia Phone : +62-31-5910283 Fax : +62-31-5931147 Email : icci2011@prodes.its.ac.id, dyah_ayu@prodes.its.ac.id Website : http://www.icci2011.wordpress.com The using of Metal Wire to Develop Technique in Weaving Recycled Newspaper Strands Irena VG FAJARTO, Yudita ROYANDI Maranatha Christian University, Jl. Prof. drg. Suria Sumantri, MPH 65, Bandung 40164 irena_75@yahoo.com , yuditaroyandi@yahoo.com Abstract - Weaving is one of the most popular and known technique in processing raw material to be goods, especially in the craft industry. Usually this is done by weaving material in strands form, which is arranged in horizantal and vertical structure in many combination resulting in varied teksture and pattern. This paper discuss the development of weaving technique, by adding metal wire in the strands. This technique is developed in a research done with interior design students in duration of one semester. The usage of metal wire opening new design probability, as the strands are now more stiff and yet still fleksible to be formed, resulting in more three dimensional teksture and pattern. The material used in this technique is recycled newspaper, in order to develop the craft industry in using recycled material. This technique is also applicable for other materials. Index Terms— newspaper, recycle, weaving, wire I. WEAVING AS A FORM OF TRADITIONAL CRAFT Weaving is a form of traditional craft technique which is very well known in Indonesia. Objects are found in every region using varied materials and weaving technique. Most of them has both symbolic and practical functions which relate to social and culture life of the people using it. Definition of weave according to Merriam- Webster Dictionary is : w[=e]v “to unite, as thread of any kind, in such manner as to form a texture; to entwine or interlace into a fabric; as, to weave wool, silk, etc.; hence to unite by close connection of intermixture; to unite intimately” Traditional weaving usually use natural material which is easy to find in its region like rattan, bamboo, pandan leaves, enceng gondok (some sort of water plants) and various kind of plant roots. Artefacts made from weaving shown nature condition and culture of a society. Bellow are several points which are used to acknowledging an artifact according to Ahadiat Joedawinata [1]: a. geographical and ecological conditions of a region b. basic material character and availability c. people activity in order to fulfill his or her practical living functions d. social events, culture and people‟s habit In creating a traditional weaving product which has art values, the artist going through varied process. A research done by Prof. Yusuf Affendi [2] discuss that this process is influence by : a. Local genius b. Traditional expertise c. Indigenous material d. Unidentified cultural mystery e. New technology and product f. Market and management knowledge g. Art history/artifact/archeology h. World cultural events i. Fashion trend/mode j. Tourism k. Local character l. Natural material processing m. Design as art Hence, a craft product like weaving product is not only influenced by local values, but it is also affected according to the change of time, trend and development. II. WEAVING AS A MEANS TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY FOR MIDDLE-LOW INCOME SOCIETY According to Soetsu Yanagi [3], craft could be grouped as 2 which are folk craft and artist craft. Folks craft is simple, using local material, handmade,