Seeking to boost the country’s creative textile economy, the Department of Science and Technology (DoST)-Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) has inked a technology business incubation (TBI) agreement and licensing term sheet with Negros-Occidental based Creative Definitions (CD) for the water-repellent finishing technology.
DoST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said TBI agreement is focused on the adoption of the PTRI’s textile finishing technology for CD’s handloom woven products.
"Water-repellency functionality will be added to lifestyle products of footwear (under the Lakat brand) and face masks which will provide a differentiating value to the product and increase business opportunities amid these challenging times,” Dela Peña said.
"Lakat Sustainable Sneaker of Creative Definitions using cotton/pineapple handwoven fabric of yarns produced at the PTRI’s Innovation Center for Yarns and Textiles on which water-repellency finishing will be applied.”
The PTRI is the agency’s textile research and development arm while CD is a social enterprise working with weaving communities primarily in Negros Occidental for the promotion of handloom woven products such as table runners, shawls, and fabrics.
"Through the Agreement, CD will be able to access DoST-PTRI’s finishing laboratory, experts, and technical assistance, and operate in an office space in the Institute’s premise,” he said.
"CD can furthermore test their business case of using water-repellent handwoven-based products and establish linkages with the commercial finishing mills,” he added.
Last week, the DoST- PTRI led this year’s celebration of the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month. The two-day TELA Conference on “Fashioning Philippine Textiles in the Now Normal and the Year of the Creative Economy” was held from Jan. 27 to 28.
The event was also held in celebration of the 54th Founding Anniversary of the Institute.
On Jan. 28, the PTRI launched the TELA Gallery and the Design and Innovation Hub.
"The TELA Gallery offers a virtual and real space for designers and enterprises in their product conceptualization, design ideation, through to prototyping in close proximity to PTRI facilities, tech generators and consultancy among other services that the Institute offers,” Dela Peña said.
He said the Textile e-portal relaunch "aims to connect the dots with the traditional weaving and dyeing partners in the regions with the community of designers, enterprises, and buyers in search of materials and product indigenous to the regions of the Philippines."