TOL VIEWS
Filipino fashion designers have truly brought our nation great pride. The likes of Monique Lhuillier, Rajo Laurel, and Michael Cinco, among others, have indeed captured the fashion world with their unique creativity in clothing design, use of material and interplay of hues. Dressing up politicians, beauty queens, movie personalities, and other influencers, both here and elsewhere in the world, the creations of Filipino fashion designers are undeniably a source of national pride and a showcase of Filipino talent and creativity.
Among the potential industries that our country can probably further explore is the clothing industry. Not only are our designs creative but they are as well reflective of our distinct character as a people – expressive, spirited, and vibrant. Recently, small and medium clothing manufacturers have moved from China and Vietnam to the Philippines as the massive automation of production in said countries are much too costly for small and budding players in the clothing industry. Not only is this an economic opportunity for the Philippines. It is likewise our fighting chance to introduce and showcase our own clothing industry that is boundless in growth potential.
The Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines or FOBAP had stated that exports from our local garment industry can reach as high as 50 percent – from $1 billion in 2022 to $1.5 billion in 2023. In addition to this, because of the business matching done during the last working visit of President Marcos in Tokyo, new garment orders amounting to $6.48 million from Nichu Co. Ltd., were placed. The deal was for the company to provide the raw materials, ship these to the Philippines, Filipino garment sewers to produce male dress shirts, and then finished products to be shipped back to Japan. This project will benefit small and medium clothing industries in Bataan, Batangas and Clark, Pampanga.
Our local fashion and clothing industry is very promising, needing only to be strengthened through intensified capability building and financial support for our local industry players. I wish to reiterate – our fashion, fabric and clothing industry presents us not only with a window of opportunity for economic growth. More so, it can unlock for us a door for Filipino clothing designers, with all their passion, creativity and national pride, to imprint on global fashion and clothing.