Cebu Is Asia's Destination For Green Jewelry

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Fashion Accessories Manufacturers And Exporters Foundation (Cebu FAME Foundation) recently launched the second edition to its international “Bijoux Cebu” trade show.

This year’s event will once again be held at Shangri-la’s Mactan Island Resort & Spa on September 26-28.

Bijoux Cebu is the counterpart of CFIF’s CebuX, and is a trade show promoting the Philippine fashion accessories industry to foreign buyers.

 “Our maiden show last year was highly successful and we were able to meet our targets,” said Janet Chua, Cebu FAME president.

“This is why we are doing it again this year. We want to give our exporters viable alternatives to joining shows abroad.

Since joining these shows entail high overhead costs, not all of our exporters can regularly participate. Fewer Philippine exhibitors mean lesser market share for our country.

By holding our own trade show in Cebu, which is the Philippines’ capital of the fashion accessories industry, participation cost is much lower and we can showcase a wider variety of products from more exporters.”

Holding its own show here in Cebu is a very timely move for the foundation and could push the industry to new heights.

This is because of the ever-growing global green movement, which drives eco-consciousness into the minds and cultures of most countries worldwide.

Among others, the global green movement calls for using only natural and bio-degradable products, and supporting those manufacturers that also practice social responsibility with regards to environmental preservation.

“The global green movement is a very good fit for Philippine fashion accessories,” Chua continued.

“We have been making green jewelry for over 30 years, using the vast natural resources found in our country, long before ‘eco-friendly’ became popular.

This is why we are positioning Bijoux Cebu as ‘Asia’s Destination For Green Jewelry’.

Everything about our products is green - from the components, to the entire manufacturing process, and even our product labels.”

This year’s theme is “International Green” and will showcase products for the 2010 Spring-Summer Collection. The collections are inspired by cultures spanning five continents - Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Africa.

These cultural inspirations will be brought together by Filipino artistry into unifying, high-fashion costume jewelries with international appeal.

“For this year’s event, we are looking at 40 exporters exhibiting at Mactan Shangri-la’s Marquee Ballroom,” Butch Carungay, Bijoux Cebu Chairman, stated.

“In addition, there will be 70 more exhibitors at the Shangri-la Gardens for the Cash & Carry Exhibit. This segment shall be open to the public.

We are now regularly receiving confirmations from buyers who will be attending the show and we are expecting a total of 200 buyers this year.”

Buyer profiles include foreign and local buyers importers, wholesalers, distributors, trading firms, merchandising agents, buying offices, department stores, mail order, and retailers.

The three-day event has a full program in addition to the trade exhibit. There will be daily fashion shows, design competitions, and social functions for the buyers.

A special craft demonstration area will also be set up to provide buyers with a first-hand look at how our artisans create the costume jewelries.

Bijoux Cebu 2009 is supported by the Export Development Council, Department Of Trade And Industry, Department Of Science And Technology, Department Of Tourism, Department Of Environment And Natural Resources, and Mactan Shangri-la.

The event is organized by Cebu FAME Foundation, PJ Arañador, and Crinnovent Corp.