History of Mustika Ratu
BRA Mooryati Soedibyo was born in Surakarta, Central Java on January 5th, 1928. She is a princess that grew up inside the Surakarta Keraton (palace) under the watchful eyes of her grandparents. The aristocratic traditions of the keraton were a part of the princess’ daily life from the very beginning. She was patient in her study of blending of ingredients to make Jamu and other preparations for health and beauty care, as well as giving careful attention to other traditional arts.
From her grand mother, BRA Mooryati learned how certain plants could impart their restorative powers to those who use them in the proper fashion. This was typical of the kind of traditional wisdom that had long been known only to members of the keraton aristocracy. By the age of fifteen, the young princess had mastered the art of herbal making and making up faces. She used this knowledge in preparing the Bedhaya and Serimpi dancers for their performances at the Surakarta Keraton. At the same time, she was also trained in the Javanese art of body care-known as Ngadi Saliro Ngadi Busono as well as time-honored traditions of courtly ethics and manners.
BRA Mooryati began a new chapter in her life in 1956. With her marriage that year, she left the charmed life at royal keraton and moved with her husband, Ir. Soedibyo Purbo Hadiningrat MSc., to the city of Medan in North Sumatra. With this new life, came new opportunities. During her spare time, BRA Mooryati began formulating her own Lulur (body scrub), an exfoliating masker designed to lighten the complexion. She also began to make Jamu according to traditional recipes. These she gave to the wives of her husband’s colleagues. The considerable talents of BRA Mooryati became well known among wives in the community. Those whose daughters were about to marry asked her to prepare special jamus such as Komaratih and Komajaya for the use of brides and grooms. They also requested Lulur, Mangir, Parem, and other special preparations.
The creation of these jamus and their ceremonial presentation were entrusted to BRA Mooryati. At this juncture, she had no intention of starting a business in jamus or traditional cosmetics. Instead, she was involved in their preparations and distribution merely as a hobby and as a kindness to her friends. But then, feeling overwhelmed by request from friends for home made jamus and cosmetics; she began to make them in a larger scale at home, helped by two assistants. In 1975, the company called Mustika Ratu was launched in earnest with just ten employees. At the beginning, only five types of jamu were produced. As Mustika Ratu grew larger year by year, more employees were added. More and more salon owners made BRA Mooryati’s time proven techniques and traditional preparations available to their customers. Within the following year, the number of employees and products produced are added.
In 1978, Mustika Ratu’s products began to be distributed to local stores through salons chosen to be the company’s agents. The public became far more aware of the value of traditional health care and beauty products through magazine and advertising campaigns. In response to an increase of demands for Mustika Ratu’s products, BRA Mooryati earned some money to build two new production lines, each with 200 sqm production space. On April 8th, 1981, the new production facility was formally inaugurated by then-Minister of Health Dr Soewardjono Soeryadiningrat. The work force totaled 150 people by this time. Mustika Ratu products are beginning to enjoy an outstanding reputation outside Indonesia, as well as in the domestic market. The company now exports its products to several foreign countries with Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore representing the most significant market.
What began as home industry activities, over the years, has grown into a major consumer products company. Her endurance and leadership capacity has proven to establish a victorious family-based health and beauty business. The business is now not only concentrate on Jamu and Cosmetics but also innovatively expanded to beauty services like SPA and leisure business. Apart from that, her business has benefit Indonesia through employing around 3000 people; and that means giving a better life for about 3000 Indonesian families. Her business also nourishes Java and Indonesian natural formula as a heritage and makes it consumable by modern live, practical, hygienic, and suitable with modern production technology. In addition, her business expansion overseas has proven that ‘made in Indonesia’ products – especially organic products – are adored internationally. This brings more foreign income to Indonesia, and she believes it eventually will contribute to the country’s economic stability
"Mustika Ratu"Original web site
http://mustika-ratu.co.id/
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