GMA showcases $3,000 eco-friendly dress

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo yesterday showcased eco-friendly coat and dress made from indigenous materials that would be marketed in Europe and the United States.

The price tag is $3,000.

Wearing an Asian-inspired coat and dress ensemble, made of piña cloth and old rose natural dye from young coconut husk, Mrs. Arroyo welcomed yesterday guests and delegates to the 8th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Science and Technology Week at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Mrs. Arroyo’s wardrobe is a creation of US-based Filipino designer Anthony Legarda.

The natural dyes used by Legarda were developed by the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI),  a government agency undertaking natural dyes research and development for textile coloration in the Philippines.

The Philippines, through the DOST, is hosting for the first time the 8th Asean Science and Technology Week.

The event coincides with the annual celebration of the National Science and Technology Week.

In her speech, Mrs. Arroyo said what she was wearing was a showcase of how the country’s indigenous product can make its mark in the fashion world.

“Another good example of a coconut derivative is a dye that went into this particular dress I’m wearing. So, these are examples of how an indigenous product like coconut can make its mark in this modern day and age,” she said.

In an interview with reporters, Legarda said organic materials are “unique” in the fashion world.

“For the President, I really want it to be Asian inspired but definitely very American and European. So particularly we used embroideries from Lumban to get the floral pattern which is the vanda, a very Mindanao flower, so I combined what is east and what’s west,” Legarda said.

Aside from Mrs. Arroyo, DOST officials and Asean S&T ministers also wore barongs – the country’s national costume – made of native fabrics, such as piña and silk, dyed using indigenous plants extract.

Legarda is currently in the Philippines to work with the PTRI in producing environment-friendly clothes.

“The colors are very exciting and definitely with the help of the PTRI we will be able to develop more designs,” he said.

“I do high-end clothing so I charge by dollars, the jacket is about $2,000 and the dress is $1,000. I’m more on the high-end market. I work with the PTRI that’s why I’m here, they develop the science, I develop the art,” Legarda said.

He did not say whether he was paid or not for the President’s dress.

PTRI director Carlos Tomboc said the natural dyes used were sourced from wild plants like cogon, which produces yellow color; mahogany (dark brown); talisay (black, gray); atchuete (orange); and indigo (blue).

Tomboc said they have tied up with Legarda to promote the indigenous textiles and natural dyes in the US.

“Hopefully it (event) would create bigger demand, (because our) objective is to create a demand,” Tomboc told The STAR.

For her part, DOST Secretary Estrella Alabastro said green products, such as natural dyes, are also in demand in the European market.

“Europeans are very environment conscious and they want green product and this is certainly a green product,” she said.

Tomboc said so far the PTRI has developed natural dyes from 75 plant species which can be found in the country.

“Currently, we have examined 75 plant species but not all are commercially viable,” he said.

Tomboc said they are continuously examining the potential of many indigenous plants because of the growing demand for environment-friendly products worldwide. – With Paolo Romero