That’s the clear and crisp promise made by the newly formed Uniform Manufacturers Organization and Designers Association (Unimoda), a group of select uniform manufacturers and designers dedicated to delivering impeccable corporate wear – and one that’s guaranteed not to put a crease on the customer’s forehead, adds a solicitous Olive Ang, Unimoda president.
Yes, the office uniform need not look as stale as last season’s fashion or as drab as office furniture. Indeed, Unimoda promises diversity in uniforms, adding up-to-the-minute pizzazz to the otherwise starch-stiff corporate wear.
Unimoda delivers its coup de grace via the lowly kumot (native handwoven blanket). Imagine wearing kumot to the office. You’d be heading straight from the bedroom to the boardroom in style!
No, it (that is, abaca) doesn’t feel itchy on the skin, so goes Olive’s word of assurance to all office girls out there. "The misconstrued image of indigenous fabric is that it’s makati, impractical and gusutin (easy to wrinkle). Using abaca for office wear has never been attempted before, but I assure you it’s not at all hot for our tropical weather. What’s more, it’s wash and wear, no need to iron."
Having ironed out those initial concerns, Olive hastens to point out, "But more than offering high-quality uniforms, we’ve made it our business to strongly advocate the promotion of Philippine tropical fabrics in corporate wear." The practical Olive herself opts for local knitwear, which serves as her uniform as it carries her through the daily rat race.
Unimoda outlines its multi-pronged commitment thus:
• Doing its share for a strong Philippine economy in support of the government’s "Buy Filipino" campaign and Presidential Memorandum Circular 20.
• Developing the local uniform industry to be globally competitive.
• Providing quality workmanship and service to its clients.
• Strengthening relationships with all the sectors of the garments and textile industry.
• Upgrading technical support and enhancing the technical competence of skilled workers.
• Uplifting the lives of Filipino workers.
Composed of entrepreneurs who are in assorted other businesses aside from doing uniforms, Unimoda has, according to Olive, also created other niches for members by partnering with certain organizations that could give them more business opportunities. "So far, we’ve been lucky enough as we’ve seen that even if we just started in January this year, our members’ business has really accelerated beyond our expectations. We are also nurturing younger members to stay true to our commitment, which is customer delight. That they do their job in the most professional manner, di pa wardi-wardi ang trabaho."
Among Olive Ang’s satisfied customers are employees of Metrobank, Security Bank & Trust Co., Allied Banking Corporation, PCI Equitable Bank.
Fact is, Unimoda has set up a code of conduct for members to follow. Those who do not follow the guidelines are subjected to disciplinary action, like being suspended or, at worst, stripped of one’s membership and banished from the organization.
Olive elaborates, "Harmonizing their responsibility to the organization and their commitment to their individual businesses, members thrive in a friendly atmosphere where they compete for certain accounts."
Today, Unimoda counts 34 members (and counting), some of them manufacturers and some designers: Olive Ang, Edric Ang, Chona Bello, Analyn Centeno, Lilibeth Chan, Delia Litonjua/Marita de Guzman, Armin Demetillo, Nilda Edquilang, Ricky Flores/Raffy Alvarez, Bon Gavino Gautier, Roxanne and Jojo Iglesia, Roman King, Remy Lagdameo, Faith Lao, Vilma Litam, Myrna Magdaluyo, Gloria Manabat, Gigi Mariano, Bing Olivar, Joji Ortiz, Mercy Pabicon, Angie and Eddie Pan, Mila San Miguel, Randall Solomon, Lee Teves, Bryan Licuanan, Danny de la Cuesta, Greg Centeno, Rusty Lopez and Chit Valencia.
They’re the men and women behind these names, which have kept a lot of career women and men suitably dressed for work all these years: 8th Avenue Fashions, Bon Gavino Gautier, Casa de Moda, Inc., D’Designer, Dhemark Design, Don-Don’s Garments, Elle Phils., Inc., Exclusive Apparel by Olive Ang, Fashions by Joji Gavino Ortiz, Fashion Sphere Design Center, Hagiazo Fashion Trend, Leenor Fashion & Trading Enterprise, Leilani International, Inc., Le Mode Fashion, Le Peer Tailors, Merce Fashion House, R. Mode Apparel, Inc., Santoyo Clothline, Unimoda International and Vien Venice Collections & Enterprise.
Today, Unimoda’s assorted client list includes government offices (from the Armed Forces of the Philippines to the Supreme Court of the Philippines), banks, schools, telecoms, hotels and resorts, private corporations (from Asia Brewery to Toyota Motors Corporation) and pharmaceutical firms (from Glaxo to Zuellig Pharma Corp.).
Tracing the beginnings of Unimoda, Olive relates, "It all started because of Memo Circular (MC) 20 which, under the initiative of then Senator Ernesto Herrera, encourages all government corporations, agencies to make use of locally manufactured fabrics or fabrics made by our local mills. Herrera has a group called Job Corps, which is part of the Department of Labor."
Once upon a time (when life was easy and smooth as silk), the Philippines was the No. 1 textile country in Asia. But now, we’re inundated with smuggled textile. And this has sent our textile industry falling apart at the seams, so it seems.
"They have better-quality, cheaper fabric," sadly notes Olive.
She heaves a sigh and says, "We want to go beyond MC 20, which simply says that the fabric must be locally milled. As we mature as an organization – maybe we have progeria – we want social relevance. That means finding ways and means to stimulate the economy not only for the benefit of textile millers. We want to come up with a program that’s agri-based – to help our farmers, the lowest members of the government."
Putting their heads and resources together, Unimoda members went deep into research – and certainly reaped what they sewed, er, sowed. "Our research brought us to the Philippine Textile and Research Institute (PTRI), which is under the Department of Science and Technology. There, we found fabrics which are truly beautiful and acceptable but have been kept in the aparador since 1993-’94. No one has taken interest in them. They showed us these Philippine tropical fabrics which the PTRI have developed – banana, pineapple and abaca fibers. These fibers are blended with polyester, have a beautiful sheen and have been ready since 1998. Unfortunately, the private sector has not yet seen their commercial potential and has not given these materials the proper marketing boost."
Bringing these hidden beauties out of the aparador, Unimoda launched the abaca, pineapple and banana fibers as corporate wear at the MC 20 & Kabuhayan 2003 exhibit last April 29 at Hotel Inter-Continental.
"The launch elicited tremendous interest," notes an ecstatic Olive. "It showcased not just locally manufactured fabrics but fabrics with an indigenous base."
She adds, "There’s no garment sector that can really put indigenous fabric to a wide market use as corporate uniforms can, though it’s been used before as haute couture and accents."
Unimoda is thankful to the Garments and Textile Export Board (GTEB) for its full support, for thinking far beyond its mandate, for getting government and private sectors to work together for a common goal. Olive observes, "The GTEB has realized that before it could go into the export market, it has to establish a very strong local market first."
When a good number of heads with the same positive energy come together, says Olive, expect only the most beautiful results. "Right now, we’re trying to set up capital for an initial grant of at least 2,000 yards for us to come up with something new all the time."
Unimoda hopes to weave more magic with our indigenous fabrics via a show in Europe this October. "Pro Fil" is double entendre for pro-Filipino and pro-filament."
And Unimoda has barely scratched the surface. "Soon, we will also be tapping other indigenous materials like Mindanao silk, abel Iloko and woven fabrics from the Ifugao region," Olive is proud to announce.
Take a long bow, Unimoda!