Today CULC Fashion team invited a special guest, Dr. Carmen Hijosa, the founder of the Ananas Anam a pioneering enterprise, which has developed Piñatex as a non-woven textile alternative to leather derived from pineapple lead fibres.
Ananas Anam has been recognised within the fashion industry as a pioneer in the development of innovative and sustainable textiles. The vision of the company aims to develop textiles and materials created using processes that boost the well-being of the earth and its people through the entire life cycle of the products. This leading the company to developed an innovative, natural and sustainable non-woven textile, Piñtex.
Ananas Anam carried out the original development leading to Piñatex in the Philippines. Its finishing, research and continuing development are now being undertaken in the UK and Spain. The idea of creating of Piñatex was inspired by Dr. Carmen Hijosa’s long-term working experience in both the design and manufacture of leather goods. She believes that textile could be made by sustainable material, and also should be able to promote social, cultural and ecological development. This belief had led her going to
She believes that textile could be made by sustainable material, and also should be able to promote social, cultural and ecological development. This belief had led her going to the Philippines to carry out further research into the development of products made. Eventually, she found out that it is possible to turn pineapple leaves into non-woven textile, a fabric bonded together without knitting or weaving.
The creation of Pińatex has benefited several stakeholders and the environment. It provides new additional income for local farmers in Philippine and other pineapple planting countries. There is no extra land, water, fertilizers or pesticides are required to produce Piñatex fibres, as they are the by-product of the original pineapple harvest. Thus, no pineapples are harmed whilst producing of Piñatex. This is the Piñatex magic!
A Not so Fashion Student's Diary 