THE Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has partnered with the Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) Program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) in an initiative to come up with a prototype sizing system fit for the Filipino physique.
With the goal of promoting innovative design development processes and supporting the local garment industry, the DOST established the Textile Product Development Center (TPDC), a technologically equipped hub where textile artists, manufacturers, and retailers can transform their research into tangible and functional outputs before offering them to the general public.
The grant-in-aid project with Benilde, titled “Perfect Fit,” uses computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing software, design visualization, and the establishment of an integrated textile product development process with the goal of producing a Philippine standard sizing system using a 3D Body Scanning System.
“This will lead to a generation of accurate measurements and the ability to optimize pattern layout [that] will result [in] more efficient textile product development, material utilization and human resources input,” DOST International Cooperation Assistant Secretary Dr. Leah Buendia noted. “Interestingly, it will not only promote mass customization in the garment industry, but will also find application [in] industrial design for manufacturing of ergonomic goods and health and nutrition for nationwide monitoring of body size and shape. The possibilities are endless.”
DLS-CSB joined DOST-PTRI as the academe partner and research arm.
DLS-CSB FDM Chairperson Christine Benet, who worked for 20 years in the merchandising and manufacturing sector, explained how this project can help elevate the Philippine fashion industry in general.
She pointed out that there are two kinds of product development: customized and ready-to-wear (RTW). The first includes designer pieces which are easier to control because of individualized measurements. “However, there is still a challenge in terms of tools. In the Philippines, We have limited mannequins and dress forms. We rely on products made in China,” she noted. “Our RTWs, on the other hand, basically follow the standard sizing of international brands and it does not always fit the Filipino size. In fact, there are questions being raised now: How come we don’t have our own sizing system?”
At DLS-CSB, students are taught not only to manually take and create measurements and patterns, but also how to do so using CAD, which is what multinational companies use. “However, although our students are trained, the local scene is not yet ready for such innovation,” Ms. Benet said. “This existing cooperation with DOST-PTRI allowed us to create awareness with the industry and the public that it is possible to do everything in a certain way wherein we are blending sustainability and technology.”
DOST-PTRI Director Celia Elumba stressed out that this initiative is just one of many projects to help the local textile industry. “We are not just researching to put this into a paper and [on] the shelves for publication. It is something that is meant to address a particular need in the society,” she stated. “We have over 100 million Filipinos and we are not even dressing 10% of our own people; we are missing out on that industrial capability to move the economy.”
Ms. Elumbra noted that currently, the Philippines is the only nation in ASEAN that has this particular system which has more accuracy and capacity as compared to what other countries use.
Currently housed in the TPDC, the first 3D Body Scanning System will be shown to the public at Sinulid: Epilogue, the third and last installment of DLS-CSB FDM’s culminating exhibit, on Oct. 8 to 10 at the SM Mega Fashion Hall in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.