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Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Creativity gives edge to Cebu-made products
By Jessica B. Natad
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
Mass and cheap production in China should not scare Cebuano exporters and manufacturers of fashion accessories and furniture because most of the international markets, especially countries in Europe and the US, are willing to pay for creativity.
Asia Pacific Leather Fair (APLF) sales manager Khamsay Luangpraseuth also said most buyers of Chinese products are now placing orders in other countries because of the many issues involving China, such as the anti-dumping laws, among others.
Praise
APLF is a Hong Kong-based exhibit organizer of fashion products, such as handbags, travel ware, footwear, leather garments and fashion accessories.
Luangpraseuth praised the creativity and innova-tiveness of Cebuano designers, saying Cebu could become the “Italy in Asia,” if there would be a transfer of technology for production from Europe to the province.
“We have some 20 companies from Cebu who have been joining our fashion access exhibit in Hong Kong and they were very successful. Cebu has marvelous designers, very creative. This is why I am here,” he said in an interview.
“I have heard so many things about the industry. But I want to see the industry for myself. I want to discover the industry,” said Luangpraseuth, who met with members of the Cebu Fashion Accessories Manufacturers and Exporters (Fame) last week.
Brand
He said the exhibitors from Cebu were able to successfully imprint the Cebu brand of fashion—that is creativity and innovation using indigenous materials—in the international market.
“In fact, the Cebu image can be the Philippine image. The Philippines has so much natural resources. Even (coming up) with products using leaves is already very unique. People abroad already find this amazing,” Luangpraseuth said.
APLF-Philippine representative Ana Misa-Quigley said one of the visions of the company is to make the Philippines the focus during one of its exhibitions in Hong Kong.
“But this needs a lot of financial support both from the national and local government. However, the result justifies the costs,” she said.
Quigley said Thailand and India, among others, benefited much after they were focused on in two separate exhibits.
“This is why we are lobbying for this as early as now. We need the support of everyone. We have to work together to make this happen,” she said.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 13, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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