Thursday, August 19, 2004 Exporters urged to incorporate crystals in products
A PIONEER in the manufacturing and export of fashion accessories in Cebu has expanded to selling a new material for fashion in Cebu, to help the industry satisfy the demand of the international market.
According to Clear Crystals president Peter Sepulveda, his company initially invested P5 million for its new business venture—wholesaling and retailing Swarovski clear crystals in Cebu.
Clear Crystals, a new subsidiary of Sepulveda’s fashion accessories exporting company Ian International, is the exclusive distributor of the Swarovski crystal in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Sepulveda said manufacturers and exporters of fashion accessories, as well as other exporters including those in the gifts, toys and housewares and furniture sectors, can use the Swarovski clear crystals as raw material for their products to make Philippine products attractive all year round.
He said the international market has stereotyped Philippine products, specifically fashion accessories, to be useful only during the summer and spring seasons.
“You see, our fashion accessories are stereotyped to complement wears during the summer and spring seasons because of the indigenous raw materials we are using. If we expand our source, if we combine the Swarovski crystals with the indigenous raw materials and play with the designs, then our products will also be saleable even during winter and autumn because Swarovski is timeless,” Sepulveda said.
He said there is a need for the Philippines to infuse new materials and designs to compete in the international market, especially with China.
“The threat of China is real. We have to be constantly on our toes,” Sepulveda said.
He said the sales of fashion accessories exporters usually drop by as much as 40 percent to 50 percent during winter and autumn, which is from July to October.
Sepulveda said some manufacturers of fashion accessories in Cebu are already using the Swarovski crystals in their products.
He said he has been encouraging the 84 members of the Fashion Accessories Manufacturers and Exporters (Fame)-Cebu to use the raw material but expects only 50 percent, those looking at the high-end market, to adopt it.
Cebu accounts for 70 percent of the fashion accessories sector’s $52 million average annual exports. (JBN)
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