During the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month, local artisans combined fashion and innovation by showcasing office uniforms made from tropical textiles spun from natural fibers. The event, held annually in January, promotes awareness of local fabrics and collaboration between industry players and research institutions to drive innovation in clothing production. This year’s highlight was a fashion show focused on boosting commercial production of indigenous tropical fabrics, including silk and natural fibers from plants such as banana, pineapple, and abaca. The exposition is aimed at various players in the textile industry, including farmers, weavers, retailers, millers, and uniform producers. The Philippines once led textile production in Southeast Asia, but changes in global trade and a lack of investment caused the garment and textile industry’s export value to drop from $3 billion in the 1990s to $1.2 billion by 2016. However, the country remains competitive in the mid- to high-end market due to its prized embroidery and intricate design capabilities, including handwoven fabrics made from indigenous fibers.