Local International Camera Bags

A couple months ago my friend and I went to Jakarta. We took the time to go to Manggarai to see a camera bag shop called Artrek. I think Artrek camera bag designs are good and the quality is not inferior to foreign-made bags.

Manca (Orange shirt), Hohok (right), and Manca's friend (left) 

Upon arriving at the store I was greeted by one of the employees. He invited us to sit, look at the products made by Artrek, and offered some water. While resting we started looking at the products and briefly chatted with him. Not long after that, the owner Rahmansyah, or often called Manca, came and warmly said hello to us as if we were old friends.

Employees working at the factory

Manca knew that my friend and I came from far away, from Yogyakarta, and he invited us for a little chat. After the chat, I became interested in knowing the history of Manca and the camera bag business. Manca began producing bags in 1996 without any knowledge of how to make one. He taught himself how to sew. At that time, the bags were manufactured for outdoor and mountaineering activities because of his love for hiking and he had a few friends who were nature lovers.

An employee cutting the material

Because he had a lot of photographer  friends, Manca  tried his luck to make camera bags in 2002. At that time, there was none of Indonesia-made camera bags. Usually the ones that were sold were imported and the price was relatively expensive. Surely the bags that Manca produced were set at a much more affordable price and the quality was comparable to the imported ones.

Sewing

As we talked, he showed me the production of the bags. They produce the bags on-site, right behind the display store. Manca said he had 20 employees. The price of the bags ranges from Rp. 50.000 – Rp. 350.000 per bag.

Fabrics for bags

Now the bags produced by Manca are well known throughout Indonesia both within professional and beginner photographer communities. The clients also include professional journalists and there are many professional photographers who have visited the place like Edi Hasbi, Feri Latief, Oscar Matuloh and others. I met some well-known photographers who reside in Yogyakarta and use Artrek products, like Dwi Oblo, Suryo Wibowo, Ulet Ifansasti, Desi Suryanto, Sigit Kurniawan, Edial Rusli, and others.

Finished products

Not only that, Artrek bags have gone international and world-class photographers also use Artrek products. According to Manca, world-class photographers had visited the Jakarta store such as the photographer of VII photo agency, John Stanmeyer and war photographer James Nacthwey.

Some of Manca's clients

Manca shared  the story of James Nachtwey visit to the store. When James came, he hugged Manca like two friends who had known each other for a long time and refused to be helped when Manca saw heavy bags that James brought with him. When James was in Bali, he ordered some bags to Manca of which he requested his own design and size, and then sent to Bali. After James had received the bags, James called Manca and said that he was crazy. He told Manca that the bags he received were exactly what he had in mind.

Manca and John Stanmeyer

Agency VII Photographer, John Stanmeyer visited the store in 2006 while he had an assignment in Yogyakarta. My guess is, he might be covering the earthquake in Yogyakarta at the time because it was also in 2006. After I saw the photos on VII photo agency website of the earthquake, the coverage was indeed done by John Stanmeyer.

Noodles that Manca bought for us

Whilst talking, the time was getting late and it was raining heavily. Suddenly, my friend and I were offered a meal and drink. I bought a cross-body canvas camera bag and two pouches for camera body and a 50mm camera lens. I was also given discounts. 

Artrek Store: Jl. Manggarai Utara 2 no. 3, Tebet, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia  

Manca was very kind to us, he fed us, gave discounts, and also because it was already 7 p.m., my friends and I had to return to Yogyakarta by train, he called an auto rickshaw and even bargained the fee for us. It is not surprising that he has many friends and his business is also growing rapidly. I would like to thank Manca for the opportunity to chat with a great person like you.