WEAR your veggies. At least that’s what the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) proved Filipinos can do to help the local fabrics industry as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) bared on Wednesday evening 40 apparels made from Philippine tropical fibers.
“It has never been tested and proven before that we can use food, fruit and vegetables as textile—until now,” PTRI Director Carlos Tomboc told the BusinessMirror.
The clothes presented by models during the Bagong Habi...Salinlahi fashion show at a hotel in Makati City were made from banana, pineapple, saluyot (C. Olitorius), maguey (Agave cantala [Roxb.]), and water hyacinth.
“[I can say that our science…] we are more advanced [since] we’re the only country who have found a way to use these indigenous materials,” Tomboc said.
The country celebrated “Philippine Tropical Fabrics Day” on January 24.
Tomboc explained that laboratory researchers at PTRI “looked at materials we have and turned them into something very useful.
“This is the reason why these [clothes presented at the fashion show were] specially designed not only for government employees [as uniforms] but also for the local and international markets.”
Tomboc said the show aimed to attract investors whom they invited to “invest in our tropical fibers.”
“We in research, we came up with the technology hoping some investors would make use of it. We’re just the generator of technology, which we transfer to entrepreneurs.”
Tomboc explained that there’s no need to reinvent equipment or buy new technology to manufacture tropical fibers.
We have an abundant supply that is readily available, he added.
Tomboc said investors “could look at it as a pioneering enterprise where they could benefit from the incentives offered to such businesses by our government.”
Likewise, he noted that tropical fibers have a niche market, “so they would have greater elbow room to grow their business.”
“We are also looking, hopefully, at the export market,” he said partly in Filipino.
PTRI research and development division chief Nora Mangalindan was quoted in a press statement as saying that the “fabrics are enzyme-treated.”
“They are comfortable to wear, they’re not prickly as the earlier, primitive versions use to be,” Mangalindan said, adding, “also, they now have a softer drape and are no longer stiff, so they can easily comply with any design.”
“Washing is easier, too. They do not require dry cleaning anymore.”
Tomboc, who wore a light-purple barong Tagalog from saluyot, said that the food, fruits and vegetables go through the same process as silk, abaca and other traditional clothing materials to become fibrous.
The dyes used to color the fabrics are also abundant, Tomboc said, noting that mayana (Coleus scutellarioides) was used for the barong Tagalog he wore.
“There’re also mahogany, guava, indigo, coconut husk, talisay [Terminalia catappa, or Indian almond] and annatto [Bixa orellana, or achiote].”
The PTRI said in a statement that “by veering away from synthetic components, less hazardous waste is generated during production, therefore, reducing damage to the environment.”
Of course, Tomboc noted, that they hope the clothes made from Philippine tropical fibers would become commercially viable so as to make prices “competitive.”
“We want to create the demand because there’s no problem in the supply side.”
He added that there are two ways to produce the clothes. His barong, however, was made via hand-loom weaving. Hence, Tomboc said, the pricing for his barong would be around the selling price of other hand-woven barong.
“These fabrics are part of our heritage and weaving is part of our culture. So you’re not just wearing a dress or toting a bag—you’re wearing our culture.”
Tomboc added that all the PTRI did was inject science into something that he hopes could be passed on to the next generation “and make the practice lucrative for the weavers.”
“We’re hoping that our products will now have greater appeal and be more marketable.”
