A veteran designer who has done RTW as well as formal and bridal wear, Lulu also pioneered and developed chic and tropical-friendly knits, making them wearable and versatile for today’s women in balmy Philippines. This time, she trains the spotlight on piña, a heritage fabric that has been the country’s source of pride and identity.
Seasoned local designer Lulu Tan Gan is all set to showcase her “farm-to-fashion” philosophy that highlights the ethereal beauty and versatility of the piña fabric on Oct. 22 at Shangri-La The Fort for this year’s highly anticipated Red Charity Gala.
Aptly called “Crafting Fashion,” Tan Gan’s newest collection masterfully reimagines the piña as a luxe material, truly reaffirming its prestige and value.
“Piña is a luxury material because of all the handwork that is put into it,” she explains, adding that the fabric has attained an even more esteemed reputation as it is now included on UNESCO’S list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
But for Tan Gan, there is a far greater mission in using piña as her main medium: Through her “farm-to-fashion” approach, she’s going for a more sustainable direction, using plant-based materials, which are carefully handcrafted by generations of indigenous weavers from the Visayas.
Her collection highlights the remarkable design possibilities of the piña, finally lending the fabric with colors using natural dyes such as indigo, turmeric and sapang. The emerging materials are then designed into masterpieces like boleros, caftans, jackets, capes and coats as well as blouses and dresses that are stylish, soft and easy to wear.
Each piece is carefully handcrafted, highlighting Tan Gan’s deep, personal connection with the piña fabric.
“I mostly engage with piña throughout the cutting process, where I love the crisp sound it makes while cutting,” she says. “As I lay out the pattern, my design often evolves. I may lengthen, widen, or reshape it. I’m also mindful of ensuring that no inch of the weave is wasted throughout the design and cutting process.”
In her collection, Tan Gan bridges the diverse heritage from Luzon and the Visayas, to Mindanao through her use of the Kalinga motif from the Ifugaos, Mandaya print from Mindanao, with the piña weaves from the Visayas.
A product of hard work, patience and special skill that’s passed down from one generation to the next, piña weaving is a long process where leaves are cut off from the Pineapple plant. The fibers are then manually scraped and knotted one-by-one to create a continuous filament to be handwoven. It is because of this age-old tradition that it was recognized as an intangible heritage for humanity.
Undoubtedly, Tan Gan couldn’t be prouder of the many possibilities of piña. “It’s inspiring to note that many designers and brands are noticing the potential of this fabric and are getting more involved with our identity and heritage, expressing it through material, craft or just purely inspiration.”
She also acknowledges events like the Red Charity Gala for providing a platform that allows greater visibility for Filipino-wear, and supporting the local resources, heritage and a strong commitment to love local.
For over 12 years now, the Red Charity Gala has been a platform for many award-winning Filipino fashion designers to exhibit their best and latest fashion collections.
Featured designers in the past include Dennis Lustico, Furne One, Michael Cinco, Cary Santiago, Ezra Santos, Jojie Lloren, Lesley Mobo, Chito Vijandre, Joey Samson, Rajo Laurel, and Ivarluski Aseron.
The highly anticipated fashion and charity gala in the country has been supporting various organizations, including Assumption High School Batch 1981 Foundation, The Philippine Red Cross and the Hope for Lupus Foundation to build awareness on this autoimmune disease and provide support and guidance to those battling the disease.
For more updates, follow Red Charity Gala on Instagram (@redcharitygala).
