The Role of Women’s Empowerment in Creative Songket Industry in Palembang City

This study aims to examine the role of women’s empowerment in the development of the creative songket industry in Palembang. The songket industry is a cultural heritage that has high economic value and involves many women in its production process. Through a qualitative approach with descriptive methods, data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation of industry players, especially female songket craftsmen in several production centers in Palembang. The results of the study indicate that women’s empowerment plays an important role in maintaining the sustainability of the creative songket industry, both in terms of production, motif innovation, and digital marketing. The empowerment carried out includes skills training, access to capital, and support from the government and local communities. In addition to increasing women’s economic independence, this empowerment also strengthens the preservation of local culture. However, challenges are still found in the form of limited access to technology and minimal business assistance. This study recommends increasing cross-sector collaboration to strengthen the role of women in the creative songket industry in a sustainable manner.