kraf

Kraf is a term used in Malay and Indonesian to denote crafts or artisanal work. In everyday speech it appears in phrases such as kraf tangan, referring to handicrafts produced by hand, and more broadly to a range of traditional and contemporary craft activities. The scope of kraf includes weaving, pottery, woodcarving, metalwork, jewelry, paper crafts, textile arts, and design-driven crafts produced for local use or commercial markets.

Historically, kraf has been tied to cultural heritage, with techniques and motifs passed down through generations. In many communities, craft practices are linked to identity, ritual, and local economies, providing livelihoods for artisans and sustaining regional traditions. Craft work often serves as a means to preserve ancestral methods while adapting to changing tastes and technologies.

Today, kraf is part of both cultural policy and the creative economy. Governments, non-governmental organizations, and cooperatives promote kraf through training programs, craft centers, fairs and exhibitions, and initiatives to connect artisans with domestic and international markets. The rise of online marketplaces and social media has expanded access to customers, allowing small producers to reach wider audiences and experiment with new designs and collaborations.

Linguistically, the word kraf is widely understood in the region as meaning “craft.” In Malay and Indonesian orthographies it is commonly written as kraf and used across formal and informal contexts to describe both traditional crafts and contemporary artisanal practice.