NST and RPC’s partnership began in 2017 when their workers were empowered to have an entrepreneurship mindset and jointly collaborated to form a cooperative. RPC is the first Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Registered Cooperative authorized to engage in garment manufacturing and exporting in the Philippines. The workers now have a genuine sense of ownership as members of the cooperative. Their global clientele includes luxury brands such as Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Reiss, Ted Baker and Supreme among others. Sometime in March, NST/RPC was approached by DTI to help the country by setting up local manufacturing of high standard medical grade PPE protective wear so that we don’t have to rely on the importations from China. To which they heeded the call. A portion of their operations was repurposed to produce quality medical grade PPEs where new machines have been purchased particularly to make PPEs and then later on upgraded to having the PPE production in a Controlled Room and Clean Room facility. They are the first local manufacturer of medical grade protective clothing approved by FDA.

The PPE production facility is ISO 8 Class 100,000 Clean Room Certified, ISO 9001:2015 Certified and the Seam-Sealed Coverall has been certified by the Philippine FDA.