Pre-Manila FAME: Product Design and Development Workshop for
GREAT Women Microentrepreneurs


The GREAT Women Project (GWP) booth is one of the features of Manila FAME held at the World Trade Center Manila on April 25-27, 2019. But did you know that before getting there, the women microentrepreneur (WME) enrollees of the project have undergone a Product Design and Development Workshop?

Take a peek at what happened before Manila FAME! This album presents a collection of photos from the Design and Development Workshop conducted in March 2019 to prepare the WMEs for April’s big event.

The Philippine Commission on Women tapped designer-entrepreneur Mich Dulce to mentor women microentrepreneurs in creating new and enhancing existing product designs in order to create the prototypes that were displayed and market-tested at the Manila FAME.

“Malaking tulong po ang product development para sa amin na mga entrepreneurs na nasa wearables and homestyles, kasi nag iiba-iba po ang trends na gusto ng mga customers. Nalalaman po naming kung ano ang uso na design at yung iba pang techniques at raw materials na pwede naming gamitin,” participant Ms. Remia A. Adedoja shared.

During the Workshop, each WME was given 3-5 new product designs that will be executed into prototypes. This is one example of the focused interventions being provided by the Project to identified WMEs to help improve their business management competencies and skills to develop new products, innovate on exciting ones and expand their markets.

Laguna Water Hyacinth and Handicrafts Producers Association, Inc. (LWHHPA) headed by its President, Ms. Remia A. Adedoja produces all-natural shoes and bags made of water hyacinth. They were given five designs: (1) medium size backpack made of water hyacinth, even the buttons; (2) black leather shoes made of black genuine leather with braided water hyacinth on top; (3) small bucket bag with round cover and adjustable strap; (4) medium-size half-moon shaped bag with flap cover; and (5) medium-size square lunch box bag with braided handle.

Elijayeth Footwear owned by Ms. Marietta E. Peñaflor was given bright color designs of coco coir shoes for the summer theme: (1) full red closed shoes with strap with pink patent piping and 2-inch block heels; (2) full yellow T-strap design with 2-inch heels; and (3) pink patent wedge with sack cover on heels.

Nym’s Footwear owned by Nimfa O. Corcega featues products made of denim and abaca. They were given these designs: (1) ribbon denim shoes; (2) open toe sandals with heels made of dark blue denim and strap; and (3) closed denim shoes with heels and strap.

The Gender Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women or GREAT Women Project assists WMEs in improving the competitiveness and sustainability of their enterprises, and supports the creation of an enabling environment for women’s economic empowerment