In a world filled with textile waste, the search for fabrics that are both sustainable and stylish has never been more urgent. Saluyot, a familiar vegetable on the tables of Filipino households, has the power to change the textile industry of the Philippines through saluyot fibers extracted from its stalks and developed by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) into innovative yarn.

Scientifically named Corchorus olitorius, saluyot goes by many names—saluyot in Iloko, tagubang in Bisaya, bush okra in English, and more widely, jute. Globally, saluyot is recognized as the world’s second-largest fiber crop after cotton, with India and Bangladesh leading its production. In the Philippines, about 692 hectares of land yielded saluyot in Ilocos and Western Visayas in 2006.

Pushing the boundaries of the textile industry sector, the DOST-PTRI has been pursuing and innovating promising sources of nontraditional fibers. Simply put, these are natural textile materials derived from tropical plants, such as agricultural by-products or unconventional textile sources like abaca, banana, pineapple, water hyacinth, maguey, anabo, kenaf, and ramie. This year, saluyot will be one of the fibers to be pushed. Aligned with this, during the 2025 State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. emphasized, “Palalaguin pa natin ang industriya ng telang Pinoy,” underscoring the role of the textile industry in creating livelihood, developing innovations, and safeguarding our culture.

Threading Communities

In 2009, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly designated it as the International Year of Natural Fibers, aiming to strengthen demand, promote efficient and sustainable industries, and contribute to improving the welfare of fiber-producing farmers, with saluyot being one of the fifteen (15) world’s major plant and animal fibers. With the goal of producing a versatile and sustainable yarn that can be used in clothing and textiles, the Institute started developing the blend of lyocell, a man-made fiber, and saluyot fiber.

Saluyot fibers are extracted from its stalks, cleaned and softened, then blended with other fibers in varying ratios. They are tested for quality, undergo finishing processes, and are often handwoven by local weaving communities.

Fig. 2 and 3. Water retting extraction of raw Saluyot fiber

Further developing and producing saluyot fibers will significantly boost the livelihoods of farmers, handloom weavers, spinning mills, fashion designers, and garment producers/retailers. This initiative will boost the Philippines' textile exports, which in 2024 reached over USD 188 million. By cultivating saluyot, the country can carve a stronger presence in the growing global market for natural and eco-friendly fabrics.

Spinning Innovation

Alongside the booming fashion industry, the textile waste that comes with it is beyond imaginable. Behind the flashy colors, trendy cuts, and timeliness over timelessness is checkout—over 267,000 tons of textile waste are dumped in Philippine landfills every year, according to the Solid Waste Management status report.

Here lies the beauty of saluyot. Durable, breathable, biodegradable, and golden in hue, it is suitable to be transformed into functional and innovative design products. With a circular economy design-thinking in mind, making garments from it will be sustainable, as seen by the Barong Tagalog made of piña-saluyot fabric handloom woven by La Herminia Piña Weaving and designed by Avel Bacudio. Beyond garments, the saluyot blended with other fibers can transform into curtains, bedding, linens, or even practical items like ropes and agricultural nets.

“DOST-PTRI’s breakthrough on saluyot fiber moves Telang Pinoy forward, showing how local resources can be transformed into sustainable textiles for the future." said DOST-PTRI Director Dr. Julius L. Leaño, Jr.

Fig. 4 and 5.Piña-Saluyot Fabric handloom woven by La Herminia Piña Weaving

Fig. 6. Barong Tagalog handloom woven by La Herminia Piña Weaving and designed by Avel Bacudio

In the age of fast fashion, this humble plant emerges as a promising source of textile material, a reminder that sometimes the answers to global challenges are planted in our own soil and are nurtured by our own people.

For more information about saluyot fiber and DOST-PTRI’s programs, technologies, and services, the Institute may be reached through email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and its official social media accounts.