The Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) is calling on local designers to develop creative footwear designs that highlight Filipino identity, through storytelling, design, and materials.
As part of the celebration of Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month, with the theme “Weaving Circularity”, the DOST-PTRI recently launched the 10th Filipino Footwear Design Competition, which will be a platform to highlight Filipino creativity and promote the local footwear industry in the country.
“The local footwear industry may not currently match its previous level of international recognition and scale, but it is poised for a resurgence, driven by growing global trends in sustainability and innovative design. By connecting the textile and footwear industries, sustainable textile technologies can be applied to create eco-friendly footwear, meeting the demand for both sustainable options and iconic local designs,” DOST-PTRI said.
As the lead agency responsible for advancing the textile and footwear industries, the DOST-PTRI launched the Shoes and Footwear Accessories R&D Towards Omnibus Solutions, commonly known as SAFATOS in 2022.
The agency said the program seeks to include the power of computer-aided tools and digitalization in the textile and footwear manufacturing sector.
“Through the SAFATOS Program, textile-based innovations have been developed, such as the re-engineering of handloom woven textiles to meet the requirements for footwear applications and the creation of woven uppers using bamboo and banana textile fibers,” DOST-PTRI said.
The 10th FFDC is a joint effort among the Philippine Footwear Federation, Inc. (PFFI), the Department of Trade and Industry – National Capital Region Office (DTI-NCRO), and the DOST-PTRI.
In this year’s competition, the FFDC will collate the designs from the participants and hold a pre-judging event, which will narrow down the submissions for the next step.
The semi-finalists will have an opportunity to prototype their designs in partnership with local footwear manufacturers, turning their designs into reality. Final judging will be based on the finished prototypes with a presentation from the designers.
According to the DOST-PTRI, aside from the cash prize of P50,000, the winners of the FFDC will also get a chance to present their prototypes in the International Footwear Design Competition to be held in Guangzhou China.
“This year’s theme, Weaving Circularity, reflects a dedication to crafting pathways for growth, collaboration, and inclusivity within the textile industry. It builds on 2023’s Pushing Boundaries and 2024’s Spinning Innovations, emphasizing the fusion of science, technology, and sustainable practices,” the agency said.
