|
DOST Secretary wears PTRI’s Natural Dyes
Taguig City- In a sunny Monday morning on 10 September 2007
at the Flag Raising Ceremony of the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST), Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro
showed up in a light and gaily mood wearing tailor-made
dress showcasing PTRI’s developed natural dyes.
Made of ramie-linen fabric, the pink and gray ensemble worn
by the Secretary features two of PTRI’s developed and
commercialized technologies. The pink embroidered blouse is
dyed with young coconut husks while the gray skirt was a
product of the modification done on mahogany barks which
normally yield reddish brown..
The same dress has graced the centerpiece of the recently
concluded 6th National Coconut Week Celebration where the
textile dye extracted from young coconut husks rightfully
gained the spotlight. The pink shade obtained from coconut
proves to be a stable color and does not show any forms of
discoloration in varying pH conditions. With proper hand
washing and avoidance of extremely harsh detergent
solutions, the fabric can sustain its color and feel.
The development of the extraction and textile application
technology using young coconut husks is inspired by the
abundant raw material supply brought about by the seemingly
end-of-the-line nature of young coconut husks. It is
considered completely as waste material after obtaining the
meat or water. Morever, the chopping of these husks prior to
extraction reduces its size making it easier for
decomposition to take place after obtaining the dye. The
magnitude of the raw material base is tremendously huge
considering that of the 12M hectares of farmlands in the
Philippines 3.1 M is devoted to coconut, harboring 324 M
coconut trees and supporting 25M Filipinos. The extension of
the prospects for young coconut husks as textile dye could
further extend the already widespread industry. The jobs it
can create from the textile dyeing alone will be huge enough
not discounting its impact on the reduction and processing
of what is at present absolute an agro-industrial waste.
On the other hand, the mahogany barks used for the
Secretary’s dress were sourced from trees inside the DOST
compound in Bicutan which fell as a devastating result of
2006 Typhoon Milenyo. Truly, natural dyes are not only for
alternative natural and safe coloration technology but they
are also a means of using waste materials to produce unique,
subtly colored and elegantly dyed office apparels.
The dress worn by Secretary Alabastro is part of the
intensive promotional activities of PTRI on the use of
natural dyes for office wear and as its own share in the
global call for environment consciousness. For 4,000
employees of DOST alone clothed with ~32,000 yards of fabric
with four distinct shades for four working days,
approximately 3,000 kgs each of young coconut husks and
mahogany barks; or 300kgs premium Philippine indigo powder
and 750 kgs of annatto seeds both of which can readily be
supplied by the Natural Dye Project of Aklan State
University and PTRI in Aklan, would be needed. The boost it
will give to farmers and the dye facility in Aklan will be
more than enough to also perk up its operation.
Secretary Alabastro wearing this Bon Gavino Gautier get up
with natural dye ensemble will surely catalyze the entry of
natural dyes into the apparel scene and popularize its use
for office wear. The aesthetic appeal and quality of the
fabrics, not to mention their economic, environmental and
social significance could not be over emphasized.
Julius L. Leaño
Jr., RDD/PTRI-DOST
|
