Sustainable fashion, through the use oftextiles made of organic, natural and recycled fibers, can contribute to theachievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainabletextiles can be hand-loomed or made from rain-fed natural fibers such asorganic cotton, silk, piña (pineapple) hemp, jute and bamboo. Productionprocesses in the sustainable fashion industry are non-polluting or lesspolluting, and often use very little energy other than human creativity,talent, and skills. In addition to using natural materials, sustainable fashionhighlights local identities and cultures, ethnically as well as ethically.
A good example of how cultural heritage andtradition can provide opportunities for value addition and productdifferentiation that can generate important economic gains domestically andinternationally is the case of the Philippines’ fashion and art crafts (whichincludes hand-woven and needlework rugs, embroidery among others). ThePhilippines have capitalized on their culture, creativity and natural resourcesto nurture a silk yarn and woven fabric industry that supports a growingtextiles and clothing industry. The value added of the Phillippe’s textiles andclothing industry stood at $US 1.89bn in 2016, which represented a 36% increasein value compared with 2000.1 The Philippines is one of the leadingexporters of creative goods among developing countries. The Philippine’screative goods exports stood at $US 915 million in 2014, with fashion goodsexports accounting for $US 279 million, while art crafts exports stood at $US162 million in the same year.
Exhibition and Workshop
Using a unique production method originatingfrom traditional folk craft, the Philippines has developed a piña-seda cloththat is considered one of the finest fabrics in the world. Following ancestralmethods, women and now also men are engaged in weaving and embroidery,particularly in the north and central Philippines. The exhibition and workshopshowcase this ancestral creative industry.
