The Philippines has attracted top Japanese fashion and lifestyle retailers in show-casing Filipino products in their stores and in expanding their footprint in the country, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

In a statement on Wednesday, DTI Secretary Cristina Roque said Adastria Co. Ltd. will expand its retail footprint and will explore local manufacturing while Etoile Kaito & Co Inc. is poised to increase sourcing of Philippine indigenous crafts.

The DTI said Roque spearheaded these collaborations during high-level discussions with the companies’ officials on March 3 in Tokyo.

“These strategic collaborations are set to significantly boost market access for premium Filipino products in Japan, attract substantial Japanese retail and supply chain investment, and showcase the nation’s rich creative talent on the international stage,” Roque said. “The exceptional creativity and craftsmanship of Filipi-nos deserve global recognition, and the Philippines is ready to take its place as a key player in the international fashion and life-style industry.”

Adastria, a leading Japanese apparel retailer with a portfolio of 45 brands, during a meeting with Roque, outlined plans to introduce more brands and explore local manufacturing opportunities, capitalizing on the Philippines’ growing retail mar-ket and competitive advantages, the DTI said.

Following the opening last December of Adastrias’s “niko and…” flagship store at SM Mall of Asia, the company aims to open multiple stores and introduce additional brands such as Global Work, Lowry’s Farm, and LAKOLE, the DTI added.

“Adastria’s expansion into the Philippines with the launch of ‘niko and…’ is just the beginning of what we hope will be a broader introduction of their diverse brand portfolio into the market,” said Roque.

She urged Adastria to consider local sourcing and manufacturing. A DTI briefer said the apparel retailer has 1,282 domestic and 127 international stores.

The briefer said Etoile Kaito, a prominent Japanese business-to-business wholesaler, is expanding its sourcing and diversifying its portfolio of interior and lifestyle products made from indigenous materials like capiz shells and abaca.

The DTI said Etoile Kaito will focus on importing a range of products, including flower vases, gardening pots, wall decorations, and fashion accessories like abaca bags and small containers.

Beyond sourcing, Roque said Etoile Kaitos expansion plans include introducing Japanese merchandise to the Philippine market through partnerships with established local distributors.

The DTI said Etoile Kaito has been working with the agency since 1988 to source products from the Philippines.

It added the company’s innovative hybrid model, seamlessly integrating digital platforms with brick-and-mortar channels, connects micro, small and medium enterprise manufacturers with an expansive network of 17,500 retailers in Japan and beyond.

News Creadit: https://malaya.com.ph/business/corporate/fashion-lifestyle-retailers-to-expand-footprint-tap-local-products/