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.

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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.

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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.