As part of the Philippine Tropical Fabrics (PTF) Month observed in January, the Philippine Textile Research Institute under the department of science and technology (DOST-PTRI) recently announced activities and programmes to boost the country's textile industry. The institute will celebrate its 51st anniversary this year with the theme ‘Concept to Cloth’.

The theme aims at offering opportunities to the government, academe and the private sector to translate ideas into materials, processes or solutions leading to more impact on the textile sector, a news agency in the Philippines quoted institute authorities as saying.

On January 30, the institute launched a technology business incubator facility for producing powdered natural dyes that will offer technical support to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). A workshop for designers and entrepreneurs was also organised on that day to make them learn drawing patterns for handloom weaving. It also plans to launch a design competition for government uniforms.

DOST-PTRI plans to launch the first textile research and development (R&D) laboratory this year to assist designers and manufacturers in prototyping their products or designs. A textile design competition for artists, ‘ArtisTELA’, will also be organised.

In 2012, President Benigno Aquino III declared January as PTF Month, with the aim to promote the use of indigenous fibres like pina, abaca and Philippine silk. (DS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

Disclaimer - All News/Articles items are subject to copyright and no article either in full or part may be reproduced in any form without permission from Fibre2Fashion Pvt. Ltd.