Fashion’s Circularity in the Philippines

The Philippines is a significant producer of clothes, fabrics, and shoes, making about $1 billion in exports every year. Despite some decline since the 1990s, there are still around 200 manufacturers, 240 traders, and over 1,000 subcontractors in the industry, employing more than an average of 657,000 workers from 2017 to 2019, mostly women. In 2020, the government introduced a plan to revive the industry and make it competitive globally.

In 2020, our government embarked on an ambitious initiative to reinvigorate this vital sector, aiming to restore its former glory as a global trendsetter.

Here's a fascinating insight: The Untapped Market - Textile! In 2022, the Philippines saw an uptick in the gross value added by textile manufacturing, totaling approximately 44.6 billion Philippine pesos. However, due to production shortfalls, the country heavily relies on imported textiles for garment manufacturing.

So, how do we fashion a brighter future for the Philippines?

1️⃣ Revive and fortify our homegrown textile industry.

2️⃣ Leverage our unique expertise to craft revolutionary fabrics that set global trends.

The challenge before us? Unveiling these unique fabrics on global platforms and reshaping the narrative of fashion collectively. Let's weave Filipino innovation into the world!

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Credits

Carlo Chen-Delantar Team Lead

Annika Herico Researcher

Agnes Boncodin Creatives