Enterprise: THE NATIONAL ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR GOES ONLINE

The National Arts and Crafts Fair (NACF) Artisanal Shop was recently launched by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and Indigenous Peoples (IPs) market their artisanal products online amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NACF Artisanal Shop features the finest collection of authentic and intricately designed heritage crafts by IPs, local weavers, and artisans from 17 community partners from all over the Philippines. The initiative is spearheaded by the DTI’s Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (DTI-BDTP) with support from the DTI Regional and Provincial Offices and in partnership with CustomMade Crafts Center, Inc. (CMCC) and powered by UnionBank GlobalLinker.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said, “With our 2025 vision of a more inclusive and prosperous Philippines, the online NACF Artisanal Shop will give broader market access both locally and globally to the products of our artisanal communities. This, in turn, will create employment opportunities that will provide a decent income for our people and support our poverty alleviation efforts.”

“With the accelerated adoption of e-commerce during the pandemic, DTI is also increasing its efforts to promote the digitalization of our MSMEs. This will serve as a means to secure sustainable practices and livelihood that will also ensure inclusivity in our communities, especially those in far-flung areas,” the trade chief said.

Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, who has been supportive of the National Arts and Crafts Fair (NACF), particularly during her stint as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, noted that the “online fair is timely and may be a venue that can be used to empower our micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) amid this pandemic, where they can continue to showcase their local products.”

The NACF Artisanal Shop is a onestop online hub for products selected with the consumer in mind. The online platform features wardrobe staples such as neckties, scarves, earrings, and woven fabric face masks; home accessories such as baskets, planters, and pillowcases; trinkets and gifts for any occasion; snacks and wine; and an array of teas bestpaired with honey from the Philippine Forest Honey Network.

The Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Program Philippines (NTFP-EP Philippines) initiated CustomMade Crafts Center, Inc. (CMCC) as a collaborative network of non-government and communitybased organizations that empower forest-dependent communities to work towards fair trade and sustainability. This year, CMCC curated artisanal products from its partner communities from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Anchored on sustainability, CMCC advocates for safe environmental practices, research, and sets top quality standards for the production of products such as honey, textiles, and natural dyes.

Further, with the rise in demand for products that contribute to safer practices for the industry, the Philippine Textile Research Institute has been working with CMCC towards slow fashion, which is quality-based rather than time-based and focuses on slower production, sustainability with ethics, and encourages consumers to invest in well-made and lasting clothes. Every bespoke piña formal attire, everyday wear, or new product using indigenous fabrics not only makes for a statement piece but also carries the stories of hard work and ingenuity of Filipino artisans.

Visit the NACF Artisanal Shop at https://nacf.linker.store/ to know more about the communities, their stories, and to support the DTI’s Buy Local, Go Lokal advocacy campaign.

For regular updates on the projects of the DTI-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion, get in touch with Director Marievic M. Bonoan at bdtp@dti.gov. ph or follow the BDTP’s social media accounts: @DTI.BDTP on Facebook and Instagram, and @DTI_BDTP on Twitter.