In line with the government’s “Buy Filipino” movement, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued Memorandum Circular No. 20 directing all national and local government agencies, government financial institutions, and other government instrumentalities including public schools, military, and police units to use locally produced materials for their uniforms.

The circular came at the right time. Uniform manufacturers were making use of more and more imported materials because of the lower costs involved. As a result, many local textile manufacturers lost their only source of livelihood. With the circular, the local textile and garment manufacturing industry will be boosted and is expected to generate much-needed jobs for Filipinos.

One group has taken up the cudgels for local textile manufacturers. The Uniform Manufacturers Organization and Designers Association (UNIMODA) was formed in October 2002 to address issues that they felt were important to the industry. “By January 2003, we were a group of 12 and we were mostly made of newcomers in the industry who wanted to make a difference,” said Olivia Ang, UNIMODA president and owner of Exclusive Apparel.

UNIMODA has now grown to 26 members committed to support the government’s “Buy Filipino” campaign and develop the local uniform industry to be globally competitive. The organization hopes to provide quality workmanship and service to its clients, strengthen relationships with all the sectors of the garments and textile industry, upgrade technical support and enhance the technical competence of skilled workers, and uplift the lives of Filipino workers.

The group has so far organized a series of seminars for their members with the aim of increasing productivity while maintaining high quality of workmanship and customer satisfaction.

“We also help our members look for clients,” Ang said. “Of course, there are times when one group will be jealous of another, but that’s human nature. We just have to make sure that there is friendly competition among our members.”

But what really keeps the group going is its desire to help the country develop its own line of indigenous fabrics – something that the Filipino people can be proud of. The move is meant to help raise the livelihood levels of these textile manufacturers.

“The influx of cheaper imported materials has dealt a big blow on our local textile manufacturers,” Ang said. “It’s a real pity that they have not seen the potentials of our fabrics like piña (pineapple). You could say that this is the legacy we want to leave behind for future generations to enjoy.”

UNIMODA’s technical team headed by designer Bon Gautier goes all over the country to constantly look for materials that can be used not only for uniforms but for a complete line of clothing. They have gone up north in the Ilocos region and the Mountain Provinces, Bicol, Aklan, Bohol, and down south to Mindanao.

They are working closely with the Philippine Textile Research Institute to come up with prototypes of the materials they will be promoting. In the course of their research, UNIMODA discovered the potential of hablon, the material used for producing blankets in the Ilocos region, and piña and abaca in the manufacture of uniforms for government offices.

Just recently, they left for Benguet, Vigan, and La Union to continue with their research on various materials in the area.

“What we are trying to do is to slowly change the mindset of Filipinos to go local,” Ang said. “But we still have to come up with the prototypes so it will be easier to convince them.”

They have scheduled a series of exhibits in and around Metro Manila to promote the idea of using locally produced materials for their creations. In September, the group is scheduled to go to Paris and London where they will visit various fashion schools and meet with commercial attaches.

“This is going to bring us one step closer to realizing our dream of developing a truly Filipino fabric,” Ang said.