Taking direct economic hits resulting into cancelled expos and shelved orders, the fashion industry was still one of the first sectors to help out during the pandemic. Fashion designers and retail brands provided protective overalls and washable face masks, as well as mounted donation drives and fundraisers.
As uncertainty mounts moving into the second year of community quarantine, the Fashion and Design Council of the Philippines (FDCP) reinforces its belief in a better tomorrow by bringing the industry together once again. FDCP hopes to be a beacon on the path to the future of Philippine fashion.
Through a Facebook status posted today, April 1, 2021, the council announced a new set of board officers with JC Buendia as president, Avel Bacudio as external vice president, Amina Aranaz-Alunan as internal vice president, Maco Custodio as secretary, Tonichi Nocom as senior adviser and press secretary, Adante Leyesa as treasurer, and Dong Omaga Diaz as senior adviser and special projects chief mentor.
"FDCP will continue its mission of giving back to the industry and its vision of making Filipino design global. We will continue supporting new talents via competitions and encourage the use of local materials," press secretary Tonichi Nocom says exclusively to Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. "In the past decade, a slow movement of loving our own has been evident. Fashion is in the forefront of this movement and our challenge is to sustain it and influence our countrymen to live it—sa isip, sa salita, sa gawa (in mind, in words, in action). Just like in relationships, we should love ourselves first before others can love us."
Given the slow recovery of the industry, FDCP reveals new projects at this time. "For its first 100 days, we aim to strengthen our brand via social media and do a virtual presentation of how designers envision the post pandemic lifestyle," Tonichi adds. "For now, we are aiming to create an online producer cooperative for designers."
For more information on FDCP, visit their Facebook page here.