The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), through its Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau (DITTB), is working with leading textile and culture agencies to promote the contributions of women in fashion in celebration of National IP Month (NIPM) this April.
IPOPHL will be working with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) to exhibit locally made fabrics and accessories from different communities of the Philippines at the 2023 Gawad Yamang Isip (GYI) Awards and Fashion Night to be held on April 26 to celebrate World IP Day.
“Handcrafted heirloom products have been a pivotal part in expanding the country’s growing geographical indications (GI) map as around 32% of IPOPHL’s official list of potential GIs are made up of local textile products. To enrich the country’s appreciation for IP-rich heirloom artistry, IPOPHL envisions the display of garments and other textile products as a tribute to the home-grown creators who have contributed to strengthening the Philippines’ creative industry,” Director General Rowel S. Barba said.
The GYI and Fashion Night also aim to empower women and help break gender disparities in the fashion and wearables industries in celebration of the broader National IP Month 2023 themed “Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity.”
“The community of women in this industry has exuded a sense of expression, dynamism and a drive for change that we feel can be best celebrated through our country’s rich culture of fashion. This National IP Month, we want to salute these brilliant Filipinas who have dedicated their work in shaping our IP system through the power of creativity and innovation by showcasing traditional pieces of fabric during the GYI,” Barba continued.
In line with its two-pronged goal, IPOPHL recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the NCCA to further strengthen appreciation for IP in the arts and culture, including the variety of fabrics that tell the different sides of the Philippine culture’s identity.
The NCCA will be showcasing artists and performers during the World IP Day events and also local woven fabrics and other indigenous pieces, namely the T’nalak, Inabal, Tepo, Pukpuk, Inabel, Kattukong, Tennun products from the selection of Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) awardees.
“Let us always keep in mind that a country that protects its creative content and inventions is a country that moves towards growth and innovation,” said NCCA Chairman Victorino M. Manalo during the MOA signing ceremony, expressing his full confidence in the partnership.
Meanwhile, IPOPHL established ties with PTRI in another MOA that brings both agencies to work together to promote IP through the showcase of Philippine tropical fabric clothing. Through this MOA, IPOPHL will be providing an avenue for exhibiting Filipino-made and IP-registered designer apparel during the GYI.
“The R&D process, particularly for textiles, indeed is a creative endeavor in itself,” PTRI Officer-in-Charge Julius L. Leaño said, emphasizing the role of the textile producers in the creative industry.
During the GYI, IPOPHL will also feature a new collection from the Philippine Fashion Coalition (PFC) made from handwoven Philippine tropical textiles supplied by PTRI.
The GYI is IPOPHL’s annual awarding ceremony that honors Filipinos and FIlipinas who have dedicated their efforts to promote IP rights protection in their fields. This is a culmination of the month-long celebration of IP every April, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 190 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017.
“Our partnerships with PTRI and NCCA form part of the wider linkages we are forging to help uplift our thriving creative economy. The collaborations we have built through our BRIGHT Agenda demonstrates the welcoming spirit of IPOPHL to more public and private ties in our journey to strengthen the culture of IP rights protection and appreciation,” Barba remarked.