Using regenerative fibres from endemic fauna, Panublix, a Philippine aims to shift fashion to a more sustainable—and nationalist—endeavour
There are many things that make up Filipino legacy, among which is Filipino fashion. But more than design, the co-founder and CEO of Panublix, Noreen Bautista, is looking at the source of it all: textiles.
With a mission to connect creatives to sustainable and regenerative sources for the craft, Bautista founded a Visayas-based organisation that has created and sustained over 200 jobs and supported over 60 brands into adapting tropical textiles. Safeguarding the legacy of her hometown, Bautista shares the joys of continuing her entrepreneurial and cultural endeavours.
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I grew up in Iloilo City, which used to be known as the Textile Capital of the Philippines in the 19th century. We had over 60,000 handloom weavers back in the day, and that fascinated me as to the role of textiles in the economy. I wanted to be part of the movement to revive this heritage. The name Panublix, in fact, comes from the Hiligaynon word, “panubli-on” which means heritage.
Our core customers are sustainability-driven designers. We are honoured to be serving over 100 of these designers, not just in the Philippines but also in Europe and the US. Their desire to consciously source materials and their concern for sustainability is what inspires us to keep going.
Our natural fibre textiles are a tangible representation of our Philippine history and legacy. Pioneers of artisan weaving in the Philippines have long been using fibres like cotton, abaca and piña which give a distinct identity to Filipino cloth. But for us to revive and sustain this, we need to support the producers in the value chain. Producing natural fibres. regeneratively can also enhance biodiversity in our land. For a country that is one of the most megadiverse in the world, this is what adds value to supporting Philippine materials. You directly contribute to biodiversity and protect not just cultural heritage, but natural landscapes, which also form part of our ancestors’ legacy.
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