A window of opportunity
“Fifteen years ago, during my visit to weaving communities in Baguio, I discovered that many were using imported Chinese threads because the local supply chain had disappeared,” Miranda said. “That made me wonder — why did we stop producing our own fabric?”
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Philippines was one of the world’s leading exporters of textiles and garments. However, the rise of synthetic materials and a lack of reinvestment in technology led to a significant decline in the industry. “The last commercial spinning mill closed down in 2024. We had the raw materials, but so much has been lost,” Miranda noted.
Moderator Nannette Arbon, a former DTI regional director, highlighted the difficulty of implementing policies despite their good intentions.
“That policy has existed for twenty years but has never gained traction due to a lack of local supply,” she explained, referring to Republic Act 9242, also known as the Tropical Fabric Act of 2004. This act mandates that government uniforms must use fabrics containing at least 5% indigenous fiber.
Miranda added that the revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 9242, released last year, present a unique “window of opportunity” for progress.
Weaving collaboration across the chain
Founded just a year ago, Isla-Tek is focused on developing sustainable textiles made from pineapple and abaca fibers, which are blended with recycled materials. Instead of pursuing a vertical approach, the startup emphasizes collaboration by linking each stage of the supply chain.
“We’re not trying to do everything ourselves,” Miranda explained. “We work with partners across the supply chain, from farmers, fiber processors, mills, to designers, so that value is created at every step.”
Among Isla-Tek's partners are Asiatex, a 40-year-old mill specializing in uniform fabrics, and Unisol, a technology-enabled company that serves the government uniform market. “There’s a lot of innovation happening on the supply chain side,” Miranda noted. “We’re collaborating with people who have decades of experience—knowledge that we can't afford to lose.”
Sylbil Marie Fortuna, Head of Customer Success at Unisol, emphasized the vital role that technology plays in connecting supply and demand. “Unisol is the go-to provider for government uniforms, offering efficient booking and delivery,” she explained.
“Through our website, unisol.ph, clients can select fabrics and colors, upload their logos, set delivery dates, and process payments—all creating a hotel-like booking experience for uniform design,” said Fortuna.
Nicky Rice, Chief of Product and Design at Unisol, highlighted the importance of using local materials that resonate with consumers. She stated, “My goal as a designer is to transform fabric into something marketable, both functional and stylish, while also considering sustainability.”
A shared effort to rebuild
Challenges remain in scaling production, but the conversation at GOAB highlighted that collaboration among agriculture, manufacturing, and design could spark a new wave of domestic textile-garments innovation.
“Competing with countries like China or India in cotton production is difficult, but few nations can produce pineapple or abaca as we do. That’s our competitive advantage,” Miranda noted.
Startups like Isla-Tek and Unisol are partnering with legacy mills, designers, and government entities, as the industry gradually reestablishes the connections between agriculture, manufacturing, and national identity.
Although rebuilding the textile and garment sector may take time, each collaboration and partnership moves the country closer to realizing that vision.
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