Executive Summary

Key insights and market outlook

Street tailors in Jakarta's Lenteng Agung area are experiencing a significant decline in income due to increased competition and limited customer base. The average daily income has dropped from Rp 200,000-300,000 before the pandemic to Rp 50,000 on typical days ⁴

. Tailors operate in challenging conditions with basic equipment and face occasional police crackdowns ¹.

Full Analysis

02

Deep Dive Analysis

Jakarta's Street Tailors Face Declining Income Amid Growing Competition

Economic Challenges in Traditional Tailoring

Street tailors operating in Jakarta's Lenteng Agung area are struggling with significantly reduced income due to increased competition and limited customer base. The traditional profession, once relatively stable, has been impacted by changing economic conditions and growing numbers of practitioners ¹

².

Changing Market Dynamics

Before the 2020 pandemic, tailors could earn between Rp 200,000 to Rp 300,000 daily. However, current earnings have plummeted to around Rp 50,000 on average days, with occasional better days reaching the pre-pandemic figures ⁴

. The decline is attributed to the saturation of tailors in the area, with at least 15 tailors operating along Jalan Raya Jagakarsa ².

Operational Challenges

Limited Service Offerings: Most tailors can only offer basic alteration services like hemming pants or replacing zippers due to limited workspace and equipment ²
Source 2
https://finance.detik.com/berita-ekonomi-bisnis/d-8292689/di-jaksel-yang-serba-mahal-tukang-jahit-jalanan-masih-pasang-tarif-rp-5-000
Basic Working Conditions: Tailors work under simple canopies with basic manual sewing machines, making their operations vulnerable to weather conditions
Regulatory Challenges: They face periodic crackdowns from local authorities, though currently, there's some leniency allowing them to operate from 9 AM onwards ¹
Source 1
https://finance.detik.com/berita-ekonomi-bisnis/d-8292889/bukan-sepi-pelanggan-ini-biang-kerok-penghasilan-tukang-jahit-jalanan-anjlok

Economic Impact

The current earnings barely cover daily expenses for meals and supplies, leaving most tailors without significant savings. On particularly slow days, some tailors return home without any income ⁴

. The situation highlights the challenges faced by traditional professions in urban environments where modernization and competition reshape traditional livelihoods.

References