In the last few decades, innovations in the textile industry have flooded the global market in volume and variety. Whether one looks at garments or industrial materials, mass-produced synthetic fibers literally bind all aspects of our daily life. Yet, it is no secret that the excessive use of these often-imported materials is both ecologically unsustainable and a breeding ground for unethical labor practices. This is what newly founded material innovation company Hiblatech seeks to address: beyond pushing the boundaries of local textile applications, it aims to contribute to a lower-emission, circular textile economy. Cofounded by Tina Sabarre and Kristine Bañez, the company’s main line of non-woven felts and woven fibers are made from pineapple-leaf fibers, departing from the centuries-old material tradition of piña. A product of colonial trade and indigenous weaving practices, handloomed piña is most often used in making garments like the Barong Tagalog. With more than 2.6 million..
