Tumang and copper have a long history. It is believed that in the times of Mataram Kingdom in the 1930s, King Pakubuwono X discovered a unique tradition among the people of Tumang, a small village part of Cepogo sub-district in Boyolali, Central Java. Many of the villagers possessed a craftsmanship that turned scraps of copper into usable kitchen utensils. Admiring this distinctive trait, the King said: “carry on, the craftsmanship will provide a way to your welfare.” Until today, the people of Tumang have tirelessly dedicated their lives to the art of copper-making, their skills passed on through generations.
Meet Handiq, a Tumang-born entrepreneur who focused on building his own business. On an overseas work trip, he stumbled upon a Tumang copper product that was part of a hotel décor. It was an eye-opening moment for him, who saw how copper products from his hometown appealed to the world. On the other hand, he knew that coppersmiths in his hometown were not prospering from this international business. Long story short, he decided to contribute his entrepreneurial know-how to refine his family’s traditional copper business.
Alongside a solid creative and production team, he founded LAKA in 2017.
The name LAKA, which translates to “especially for you”, carries the spirit of the brand. A brainchild of a Tumang-native and a son of a copper craftsman, the brand was established in 2017 with a vision to bring Tumang’s copper products to the world.
In the making of the products, LAKA takes on over 30 local copper craftsmen under its wings, equipping them with contemporary design knowledge to complement their traditional know-how. It is long-term relationship that hopes to develops the lives of the craftsmen as much as taking the local tradition to the next level.
We are ready to create customized home décor and furnishing items to suit your spaces. Alternatively, you may choose from our existing designs – updated regularly in keeping with global design innovations. We mainly work with copper and brass, with an experience of working with all types of metal to complement your spaces.
At the heart of our creations is the craftsmanship of our partner coppersmiths in Tumang. Our products are mostly handmade from high-quality copper. This enables us to create distinctive products that will help separate your brand from the rest. With a vision to serve global clientele, we have obtained an export license that allows LAKA to serve you wherever you are.