Ms. Earth to showcase local colors, fabrics

In a bid to promote Philippine fabrics in the international market, the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI), in collaboration with a Filipino-American designer, will showcase local dyed textiles during the coronation night of Ms. Earth 2007 on Nov. 11 at the University of the Philippines theater in Quezon City.

The PTRI, an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology that undertakes natural dyes research and expansion for textile coloration in the Philippines, and designer Anthony Cruz-Legarda, developed colors and shades for pineapple silk and Philippine silk fabrics.

Pineapple silk, a blend of silk and pineapple fibers, was dyed with pigments from various botanicals. The translucence of piña-seda renders the colors from the various dye sources with a subtle and sophisticated look.

The colors for the piña-seda collection include bright shades of orange and yellow, rich reddish brown, deep black and regal blue, highlighting the intensity and richness of natural colors, the PTRI said.

“All reared, reeled, thrown and degummed, woven and dyed in the Philippines, raw silk fibers also made it to the collection,” the PTRI said.

“Unpopular as it is, Philippine silk will be presented in a rather rare form which goes against the stereotypical flowing character of silk. The drape and density of the fabrics offer a new dimension for Philippine silk which can include Filipino weave designs and patterns and thus carve its own niche as a staple textile material in the fashion scene,” it said.

The PTRI has been using natural dyes from extracted various natural sources. Among these plants are the leaves of talisay tree (Terminalia catappa), cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica), barks of mahogany (Switenia macrophylla King), annatto seeds (Bixa orellana) and yellow ginger (Curcuma longga).

“Naturally dyed Philippine textile through Ms. Earth will popularize these eco-clothing line, conscious of the textile material, the color, the weave and the design. It is then a blend of all natural materials and colors and the richness of Philippine heritage meeting the vogue shapes and designs of glamorous fashion trends in the luminary capitals of high-end clothing all over the world,” the PTRI said.