Enhancing Muslim fashion to be the center of ASEAN market
World market value of 2088 billion Bath
By: Ekkarat Mukem
Alami News: Muslim fashion business is a remarkable business and is widely recognized a few years ago and the Department of Industrial Promotion are seriously focused on Muslim fashion
“Mr. Somphon Ratthanapibal” is the one who plays the most important role on this issue and to spark the awareness of the government. He is the director of the Department of Industrial Sector. After he holds this position, he has a dream that “How to make Thailand becomes to be the central market for Muslim fashion”.
Mr. Somphon talked about the fashion of Muslim in the past by saying that most people will get a garment according to customer’s requirement, which cannot develop their business. So, he tried to find the concept how to develop the group to be more prosperous by having the technique and frame work for sewing. Moreover, it is how to create the ability in order to compete in the market. In this case, he thinks that the government needs to invest a certain amount of added support.
“After that we went down to see the area and we found the entrepreneurs, such as Meenburee ,Suanluang, Bangkapi, Nonthaburi, Ayuthaya, and Pathum Thani areas have many entrepreneurs sewing clothes, but they do not make in system. Most of them sew according to customer’s demand”.
Mr. Somphon also said that the mission of the Department of Industry is to promote the development of SMEs and entrepreneurs with the ability to be competitive in the market. So, he wants to encourage these groups to develop this capacity according to the strategy of the department, and it came to be the source of proposed plan to the agency by having two main reasons: 1. Muslim population have at least 1500-1600 millions and 2: population in the ASEAN region are more than 600 million and 300 million people are Muslims.
Finally, he achieved his plan and have a project to develop Muslim fashion, and he is the starting point and do it 3 years ago, and his partner is Srinakarin viroot University which has a fashion for industrial branch. The teacher is integrated the curriculum course for entrepreneurs to be more knowledgeable about sewing.
Mr.Somphon describes the trend of the Muslim dress by stating that even though Muslim dress is based on religious principle, he found that people wear differently in each region, and it is colorful. For example, Muslim in Indonesia, Malaysia or Muslims in Thailand have their own style in dressing. Even Muslims in the Middle East have their own custom and wear dress differently. However, Arab people know the difference when they see each other.
“I think that the design of Muslim fashion will be professional if they design by themselves because they understand the style, cultures as well as faith. I said this because Muslim fashion is profound in both traditions and principle of religion”.
Mr. Somphon talked about the project and plans to push up the Muslim fashion in Thailand by saying that in the past, we arranged the training program to develop entrepreneurs and designer for enhancing their ability. In this case, we also take them to see work abroad.
“Last year we brought 30 participants to see work in Turkey because this country is connected to Europe, and it has a variety of Muslim clothes. Moreover, we brought them because we want them to get some experiences."
We also arranged a fashion show contest, and the highlight of our plan is to give a chance to the participants and to motivate people not only Muslim, but it is also non Muslims knowing what happened in today’s world, such as the change in our society, the Muslim fashion, and the model.
The director from department of Industrial Sector is directly responsible, and he agrees on Muslim fashion because he thinks that Muslim fashion is something new and many people are interested in. Moreover, he looks at the Southern Border issue and thinks that this kind of jobs can be part of solution, helped develop the area, creating tasks, and enhancing economy.
“I was thinking what to do to have a strong product in term of industry"
Mr.Somphon analyzed the opportunities of Muslim fashion. If we look at the Thai export, we will see that there are a lot of products we export to other country. It is approximately more than one million Bath. So, he tried to encourage the entrepreneurs to understand the fashion in general. Having said this, it is to understand about the trend, color, and model.
In addition, we need to focus on the quality and standard of designs, colors, and shapes which are important. However, Thailand is not a manufacturer country, but we are a producer according to customer’s service, and we seriously concentrated on quality and craftsmanship. We are professional on it comparing to other regions nowadays.
We also encourage entrepreneurs to create a brand. In the future, Thailand can become to be the center for Muslim fashion in the region and in the world.
"I do not think like that, but I have to accept that Muslims in Thailand are intelligent and smart. One day, if they have a chance, I believe that Thailand will be famous in term of fashion design. However, it will take time to develop, and the region, private sectors, and public organizations should cooperate together to achieve their goals.
Mr.Somphon, as the sparker for Muslim fashion looked at the market when AEC came and said that Thai market will be spread because ASEAN are interested in, and Muslim fashion will be widespread and well developed too.
He looks at the change of Muslim fashion and said that he wanted Thailand to be the center for Muslim fashion in the region and try to make the world knows the brand. When they need Muslims fashion, they will come to Thailand.
"What I’m proud in the last 3-4 years is that I did what I’m willing. I wanted Muslim to wear nice dress and appropriated to the events, but what I’m very proud a lot is to make the official or politicians to understand and to accept the Muslim fashion in different style, design, and colorful.
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Before the opening of AEC (ASEAN Economic Community) in 2015, the department of Industry has organized and gives training to the entrepreneurs in term of Muslim design both professional and inexpert for about 200 designs, and we already have 100 models. This is because we want Thai entrepreneurs going to develop their designs and customs for exporting to the regions, Middle East, and Africa.
However, if we look at the Muslim industry in the region, we will find that the growth rate increased on average of 10-20% every year. This average found that Indonesia is the producer and major exporter. Malaysia is the second exporter.
Therefore, to encourage Thailand to be well prepared before the opening of the ASEAN Community, we need to accelerate the development of design to share in the ASEAN market before upgrading to be the leader in term of fashion design in the future.
For the global apparel market is worth to 2.88 billion of the total population of 1,600 million, and 1.44 trillion baht was the market value in Asia, especially in Indonesia which has a Muslim population of 212 million has a market value of 168,000 million baht, but in Thailand has a population of6.9 million with the market value about 7,200 million baht.
Data from the Southern Centre indicates that in 2000, it has a group manufacturer Muslim dress mot less than 500 households located in the three southern border provinces. And the market value is not less than 250 million per year, but with the change of Muslim behavior like wearing a fashion design help promote create new products to the market.
And government are seriously encourage this point, Mr.Somphon Rattanaphibal, Governance Director of Industrial Development Sector, said that the data is not clear, and I expected that Muslim fashion has a value not less than 500 to 1000 million / year at one place.
Muslim fashion business was very popular and Thailand urged the private sector to adapt. Thailand hopes to raise Muslim fashion to become more interactive.
Copy: The Alami Magazine August 2013
