In our projects under the Filipina Fashion R(E)volution campaign such as Bayo x HABI, Weaving in the City, we have reached provinces far and wide to connect with small communities. In our interactions with them, we have noticed the clear gap between small artisans and the large Philippine market. Local makers – those practicing traditional skills in hand-weaving, cotton farming, and so on – have the talent to produce world-class quality and market-competitive products. The challenge lies in making them reach the wider Philippine market – what platform to sell on, how to understand their consumer, how to advertise, and so on. This gap is what Bayo’s Community Partner Program (CPP) aims to address.
The Partnership
Bayo will partner up with multiple associations to develop one product each. We have started off in the Cordillera Administrative Region, with three weaving associations in Baguio. The participants will work closely with Bayo’s creative department to develop products that are marketable to the Filipino consumer, yet true to Baguio’s roots. The same will go for future associations joining the CPP.
The final products will be sold on styleshops.com.ph and will stay on the site for three months. Any profit from the sales of the CPP products will go directly to the association of the weavers and their assigned partner-designer.
The Goals
The large goal of Bayo’s CPP is capacity building – to equip Filipinos with the knowledge, skills, and other essential tools they need to make a livelihood. Under capacity building is understanding the value of their work, sustainability, learning the creative process, and marketing.
The Value of Work
It is essential for the participants to understand the value of their work, because they are not ordinary makers; They are culture preservers who practice traditions that are closely tied to our national identity. When they do their craft, they must be aware that they are serving the noble purpose of sustaining our heritage.
Sustainability
Philippine traditions such as handweaving are inherently sustainable – they do not use a lot of energy and have been regarded as a catalyst for sustainability. The participants understand that by doing these crafts, they are playing their part in preserving the earth. Empowering the weavers to realize the value of their craft enables them to become proactive in becoming advocates of sustainable practices.
The Creative Process
One of the most practical parts of the CPP is teaching the association the creative process of producing a marketable product. Bayo’s creative team will lead the participants all the way from ideation to final edits. The association will gain deeper insights into the world of product development – how much research, thought, editing, and effort must be put into making a good product.
Marketing the Product
The success of a product also hinges on how well it is marketed. The CPP will help in this by providing our website, styleshops.com.ph, as a platform for their products. The participants can also opt to market them on their own site instead, and just ask for Bayo’s mentorship in the process. This will greatly improve their marketing skills, something especially needed by small artisans to reach the wide Philippine audience.
We hope that after participating in Bayo’s CPP, the association members can go about independently creating, developing, and marketing their products, all while staying true to the purpose of preserving culture.
