Pemberdayaan Ibu Rumah Tangga melalui Pelatihan Pemanfaatan Kain Bekas Menjadi Pot Berbasis Ekonomi Sirkular

Abstract

Used or discarded fabrics and clothing at the household level are still often stored, used for simple purposes, or discarded because community members lack the skills to process them into functional products. This community service activity aimed to improve the skills of housewives in utilizing used fabrics to make plant pots through a circular economy approach. The activity was conducted in collaboration with the Paraikatte Community in Tamalate District, Makassar City, involving 26 participants. The implementation methods included socialization, demonstration, training, hands-on practice, mentoring, and evaluation. The technology applied involved a simple technique for making plant pots from used fabrics using cement as the primary binding material and simple molds. Participants practiced the stages of fabric preparation, cement mixture preparation, fabric coating, molding, fold arrangement, drying, and product finishing. The results showed that participants were able to follow the production stages and produce plant pots with various shapes, sizes, and designs according to their creativity. The activity also introduced several alternative ways of utilizing used fabrics, including pots made from a mixture of cement and sand. The training and mentoring provided participants with practical experience, enabling them to apply their skills in utilizing used fabrics within their households. This activity demonstrates that practice-based training can be a relevant approach to community empowerment while supporting the implementation of a circular economy through the reuse of textile materials.