Ibu Lasmani and Her Tas Mantap

by Ibnu Lukman

Meet Ibu Lasmani, a 42-year-old mother of two from Tuban, East Java, Indonesia. A well-known tailor in her village, she is also one of Kopernik’s ‘wonder women’ — selling simple, life-changing technologies such as solar lights, water filters, and clean cookstoves. This women’s economic empowerment program is supported by ExxonMobil Foundation.

Now, in partnership with Kopernik, Ibu Lasmani is developing a new technology called Tas Mantap — which literally means ‘Awesome Bag’ in Indonesian.

Tas Mantap helps save money on cooking fuel and save time cooking over a hot stove, as the pillow-like material retains the heat from cooking when you put a pot inside the bag.

Making a Tas Mantap is really easy. All you need is 2.5 metres of good quality fabric and insulation — such as kapok, a natural cotton-like seed fibre. First, we draw a pattern on the fabric and cut out the shape. It is then sewed, filled with kapok, and sewed again. It takes less than two hours to make one bag.

To use, simply put a partly-cooked pot inside Tas Mantap and close it tightly — the bag’s heat retention properties will complete the cooking process.

Tas Mantap is also perfect for a day out at the park or even a picnic, as it can keep food warm for up to four hours.

Originally published at www.kopernik.ngo by Ibnu Lukman / Photographs by Ibnu Lukman for Kopernik