Local fabrics from pineapple, banana, abaca, Philippine silk, and other natural fibers will be the focus of Fashionation 2011, a fashion show organized by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions. The fashion show, to be held February 24 at the Philippine Trade Training Center, Pasay City, is an offshoot of the celebration of the Philippine Tropical Fabrics (PTF) Day on January 24.
President Benigno S. C. Aquino III declared January 24, 2011 as PTF Day under Proclamation No. 86 signed on December 21, 2010 to push for the implementation of Republic Act 9242 or the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law of 2004.
“The PTF Day will mark a milestone in the awareness on the development of Philippine tropical fabrics. PTRI-DOST has been in the forefront of continuously generating tropical textile technologies and, currently, we need investors to commercially produce local tropical fabrics,” explains Dr. Carlos C. Tomboc, director of the Philippine Textile Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (PTRI-DOST), the lead agency in the observance of the PTF Day.
PTRI will provide most of the tropical fabrics that will be used at the set of Fashionation 2011. The show, also supported by the Department of Agriculture’s Fiber Industry Development Authority and the Civil Service Commission, will feature Philippine tropical fibers and other locally manufactured fabrics as office uniforms. Government officials, business corporations, and representatives from the textile and garments industries will be invited to the show.
PTRI-DOST, the government’s lead agency in textile research and development, urges key players in the textile and garment industries and private entities to invest in the PTRI-developed fiber pretreatment and other textile-related technologies. To facilitate the adoption of technologies, PTRI developed and made available a package of textile technology options to help revive the local textile and garment industries, and create livelihood in the agricultural and industrial sectors. PTRI also encourages the public to patronize local tropical fibers for home textiles, office uniforms, formal wear, and chic ensembles on catwalks, among other uses. (Arlene R. Obmerga, S&T Media Service)
