(PIA) -- From a manager of a livelihood program of a local government unit to a Go Negosyo Most Inspiring MSME 2023 awardee.

Y-Kalinga Tapis Weaving owner Elvira Docasao- Dupli turned her passion for fashion into her own enterprise that paved the way for her to win the Go Negosyo Most Inspiring MSMES 2023  Award.

She received this award from  DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion during the National MSME Summit 2023 held on July 18 at the Manila Hotel.

Visionary Entreprenuer

Before becoming the boss of her own business, Elvira was working as a manager of the Lubuagan LGU livelihood program.

In 2015, she decided to take her passion for fashion to the next level. With an initial capital of P15, 000.00, she bought a portable weaving machine and woven textile to start with.

She searched online on what ethnic products were in demand, and she found out that the most asked for is the “tapis”or colorful hand-woven wrap-around skirt worn by women in the Cordilleras. This she made the centerpiece of her business using Facebook as her platform to sell her creations.

She later on added bolero in her fashion line, which was a hit among her customers. From these products, she was able to increase her annual sales.

Kapatid Mentor Me

In 2019, Elvira was invited to visit the Negosyo Center in Lubuagan  for possible government intervention particularly from the Department of Trade and Industry. There she was invited to register her business so that she could operate formally. This she did right there and then.

“Through the Negosyo Center, she was able to participate in product development program under OTOP Next Gen. She also participated in Entrepreneurship and Marketing trainings thru the various programs of DTI.  Moreover, she also enrolled and  recently graduated in the KMME MME Program where she gained deeper knowledge on how to run her business, ” Aurelia Sanet of DTI Kalinga stated in a write up.

The KMME-MME which stands for Kapatid Mentor Me-Money Market Encounter program aims to help MSMEs scale up their business thru learning and coaching sessions and mentoring. 

Elvira applied the marketing strategies she learned and continuously introduced innovations on her designs and color combination. This she did consistent with posting her products online.

Pandemic Breakthrough

The breakthrough for Y-Kalinga Tapis Weaving in Bulanao, Tabuk was in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Elvira  has  a buyer from Bontoc, Mountain Province  who supplies Tindahan ni Denzio  in Quezon City with woven items from the Cordillera.

The colorful masks, bandana, and  turban from Kalinga and Sagada  happened to catch the eye of famous actress Dimples  Romana who  bought several sets of the items from said store.  In her  social media accounts on August  13, 2020, the actress   “modelled”  these  masks, bandanas  and  turbans.

After Romana’s free plugging to buy local products, Y-Kalinga Tapis Weaving generated sales of P260,000.00.

 Dupli’s enterprise is now far and wide. Aside from the Cordillera and Manila, Y-Kalinga Tapis Weaving products have reached Cebu, Japan, Dubai, New Zealand, Australia and the US.

From its sales of P60,000 in 2019, it reached P1,020,000 this year.

Ripple Effect

It’s not all gains for herself for Dupli as she employed six women weavers who were able to support the education of their children, and some were able to build their own houses. She also  hired 26  high school students as part timers to  do embroidery and beads to support themselves.

Inspiring  this mother of five to continue striving for more success of her  business venture is her family.

“Being a mother of five kids, I am continuously pouring my passion and determination to my business in order for me to sustain the financial needs of my family especially for their schooling. Through this business, I was able to explore so much opportunities.  I am always proud  with my business because I have my family who always supports me,”  Dupli said.

More are in store for  Dupli. The  Y-Kalinga Tapis Weaving  is among the 59 finalists of the Sinag Challenge!  of the  BPI Sinag and Bayan Academy  which promotes the country’s social enterprise.