AN international fashion designer is urging all micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to continuously be responsible producers as they aim to capture a slice of the world market.
Percy "PJ" Arañador of Home Couture said entrepreneurs who want to sustain their present market and widen their reach must be responsible in how they produce their products.
"All of us must be responsible producers so that we will be able to meet the demand. It means that we have to look for ideas and ways to preserve our sources of raw materials and the entire production process," said Arañador, a product development consultant for the Mindanao Trade Expo (MTE) 2010.
Arañador said to become responsible producers, there are three strategies that can be adopted. First strategy is to consider cultural consumerism which is done by crossing two patterns (e.g. mix Maranao pattern with French). Second is to get retro and the last one is to go green.
Arañador added that by crossing two different patterns, adding new touch to an ld furniture, and using ecologically sustainable raw materials, entrepreneurs don't only produce new products but more importantly they help save the environment.
"We're making old things new again and we're even adding soul to the antiques and vintage products.
We're also making use of the indigenous raw materials. Thus, we're showing that we are responsible producers," he said.
In using indigenous raw materials, the world class fashion consultant said that producers are assured of sustainable supply of raw materials which is a very important factor in meeting the market demand.
MTE 2010 chair and MTE Foundation, Inc. (MTEFI) president Ann T. Pamintuan, agreed with Aranador, saying it is on this note that they decided to carry the theme "Mindanao Trade Expo: Ecoing Tradition" for this year's MTE.
"The global green market is estimated to be a multi-billion industry. There is really a huge opportunity that can be tapped by the Mindanao producers. We just have to explore that opportunity and inject some innovations on our products in order to capture the demand," she said.
Pamintuan is encouraging everyone to visit the MTE 2010 on August 19 to 22 at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Convention Hall to find sustainable products and understand further what a responsible producer is all about.
The MTE 2010, which is an accredited event of the Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival, is presented by the Export Development Council (EDC) in cooperation with the Philippine Exporters Confederation (PhilExport) National and Davao Chapter, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Growth with Equity and Mindanao (GEM) Program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAid).