PINEAPPLE FABRIC
By Maria Alyssa M. Martinez
INTRODUCTION
Cotton is the most
popular organic fabric
in the world but in the
Philippines, there are
Piña or Pineapple
(in English) Fabrics
which are used in
Filipino traditional
clothing such as a
Barong Tagalog
centuries ago since
the Spanish
Colonization.
CONCEPT NO. 1
A Barong Tagalog (the word
"Tagalog" in the garment's
name refers to the Tagalog
region where my hometown
is located) which are made
from pineapple fabric is a
traditional Men’s clothing in
the Philippines usually used
in weddings and other
formal events. For my first
concept I used a pale yellow
Barong Tagalog and styled
it with modern and trendy
clothing and accessories like
a neon feather earrings, clog
shoes and colourful envelope
clutch to make it chic this
spring/ summer season.
CONCEPT NO. 2
I refuse to stop with just
traditional Filipino
clothing which is,
unfortunately, the case
right now. Regal and
Timeless are the two
words that best
describes the pineapple
fabric. With it’s texture
even though it’s
technically a sheer
fabric, designers can
make any clothing with
it like the shorts worn
on the photo.
IF WE CAN MAKE SHORTS WITH IT, WHY
NOT MAKE A WHOLE OUTFIT WITH IT?
Shorts are not the only
clothing I think that
could be created from
a pineapple fabric.
Why not also make a
top like the blouse on
the photo and a
trendy skirt with it?
Other things I thought
too are trousers and
blazers.
CONCEPT NO. 3
If we can make shorts, tops,
trousers, blazer and skirts
with it. I also thought of
“Why not print on it too?”
Ever since I knew Piña or
Pineapple fabric, I never
actually saw it in
boutiques and department
stores unless if it is a
Barong Tagalog or other
Traditional Filipino
clothing which are only
used in formal events.
Printed shirts are the
ultimate must have in the
closet of every teenagers
and young adults.
HOW CAN A PINEAPPLE FABRIC
CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL INNOVATION?
Pineapple fabric are created from a pineapple plant
which also produces the pineapple fruit that are very
common in the Philippines. Spanish Red or Native
Philippine Red Pineapples takes around 18
months to reach maturity. The good thing about this
are pineapples respond better to rich soil, and now an
increasing number of organic farmers in the
Philippines are producing organic pineapple. So
there’s no doubt that the pineapple crops leave a
friendlier footprint on our environment.
With environment problems we encounter today, the
last thing we needed are fabrics produced with the
help of hazardous chemicals like pesticides and
insecticides. Also hazardous chemicals can cause
damages not only in the environment but also in
human body.