Philippines is one of the largest exporter of fashion accessories and costume body jewelry in Asia. The costume jewelry industry in the Philippines started in the mid-seventies with the production of shell-craft. Philippines is blessed of natural resources that are used to make such beautiful natural jewelry like necklace, bracelet, anklet, earrings, ring and many more. These natural materials can be found anywhere in the country like shells, wood, coco, raffia, stone, bone, resin and etc to make natural components.

There are many companies in the Philippines that is involved in exporting fashion jewelry products and accessories worldwide. In Cebu, manufacturers and exporters took advantage of a boom in sales of shell- based costume jewelry. Since then, the Philippines, especially Cebu, has become a major supplier of shell jewelry worldwide.

The Philippine jewelry industry has evolved from in terms of natural materials from seashell to coconut, wood, horn, stone, fibre, bone, leather, metal, paper and resin. It has also diversified in terms of production techniques, from the traditional stringing to in-lay, resin bonding, wooden mosaics and paper mache. Jewelry products from the Philippines are highly noted for the quality, design and innovations.

Costume jewelry is also referred to as fashion accessories, fashion jewelry or imitation jewelry. Broken down by type of item, costume jewelry can be described as follows:

• Accessories for women – necklaces, pendants, armlets, earrings, lockets, anklets, rings, brooches, corsage bracelets, bangles, all types of pins, pierced earrings

• Items for the hair – hair clips, barrettes, head bands, hair pins, ribbons, scunchi, ponytail holders

• Accessories for men – tie pins/clasps, necklaces, buttons, decorative watches, rings, cufflinks

• Accessories for children – colorful brooches, hair ornaments, rings, necklaces, earrings (for pierced ears), other accessories.

At present, it is estimated that about 5,000 firms are engaged in the production of costume jewelry and employ between 50,000 workers. Most of these companies, especially those in Cebu, are still classified as cottage industries. There are, however, also several wholly and partially-owned foreign affiliated and joint venture companies (United States, Italy, West Germany, South Korea, Great Britain, Portugal, China, Taiwan, Netherlands, Belgium, France and Austria) which are engaged in the manufacture and trading of Philippine costume jewelry. Most of these companies, which are quite large, have remained leaders in the costume jewelry export business.