DOST-PTRI to launch Philippine Handloom Weaving Center in July 2025

THE Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) will officially inaugurate the Philippine Handloom Weaving Center at the DOST-PTRI Grounds in Taguig City on July 7, 2025.

The Philippine Handloom Weaving Center is envisioned as a hub for innovation in the country’s handloom weaving sector. It aims to advance weaving techniques and technology while preserving the cultural heritage and craftsmanship of Filipino weavers.

The center will lead initiatives in modernizing weave design, drafting, and analysis; advancing handloom engineering technologies; and promoting intellectual property protection. These efforts will be carried out in collaboration with the 24 Regional Handloom Weaving Innovation Hubs established across the Philippines.

Through skills training and capability-building programs, the center also seeks to formalize handloom weaving as a recognized technical skill, contributing to local employment generation and strengthening the national textile manufacturing industry.

Positioned as the nucleus for handloom woven textile conservation and innovation, the center will integrate science and artistry in its operations. Among its highlights are DOST-PTRI’s innovations in weaving equipment, digital weave pattern design, product testing and assurance, skills development, technology transfer, and the use of sustainable, natural fiber-blended yarns.

These advancements are designed to complement and uplift traditional handloom practices and the creative expertise of local weavers.

The facility will house 10 units of the HL Mach 4.0 (45” width, four-harness) and two units of the Theraloom V2 (25” width, four-harness), showcasing DOST-PTRI’s patented technologies in support of weaving modernization.

A dedicated space will also be allotted for the “DigiTELAzation” Program, highlighting the development of a national database of weavers, computer-assisted weave pattern drafting, and the application of covert yarn technology.

For more information about Philippine textiles and DOST-PTRI’s programs, technologies, and services, the institute may be reached via email at [email protected] or through its official social media channels.