Fashion accessory makers slowly regaining foothold

Fashion accessory export products from Cebu are starting to bounce back owing to the players’ good positioning and branding efforts.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) regional director Asteria Caberte announced that most exporters and makers of fashion accessory items have reported positive performance, as well as order placements.

According to Caberte, Cebu’s success to regain traction in the difficult export market, is due to the industry’s effort to improve its design edge, targeting the deluxe clientele.

Investing in branding, design development, are just two of the factors why the fashion accessory industry is gaining healthy standing right now.

Early this year, Caberte announced that her office has submitted a proposed budget of P7 million as DTI contribution, for planned exhibit to be held in Paris next year.

DTI, together with industry players will bring "The Chambers: the Cebu Project," exhibit brand to Paris tentatively by June 2019.

The Chambers: the Cebu Project,” an exhibit that showcases Cebu’s best export quality products, a project initiated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI7), in collaboration with members of the Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc., (CFIF), Fashion Accessories Manufacturers and Exporters (FAME Cebu), Gifts, Toys and Housewares Exporters Foundation Inc. (Cebu-GTH).

The Paris exhibit is seen to kick off the brand's series of international shows, bringing quality products from Cebu direct to the market, and in collective and collaborative efforts.

This is part of the complementary moves to be taken by the industry in partnership with DTI to take advantage of the market rebound.—