For this fashion expert, clothes start with the farmer

'm in Tabuk, Kalinga as part of Masda Aw, a cultural exchange between Kalinga weavers and Manila creatives.

- YVETTE TAN

Last week, I wrote about Florence Amily Ao-wat, known as Manang Astrid, owner of Kinwa Etnika Handicrafts and founder of the Kalinga Indigenous Weavers Association, who hopes that reviving the use of natural dye and Philippine cotton can increase the economic and cultural potential of her weaves. This week, I'd like to focus on the person instructing the Kinwa weavers on the process.

Diana Katigbak is a natural dye artist, fashion designer, and university professor who teaches textile science, natural dyeing, and surface design techniques. She majored in fashion design, gravitating toward its blend of business and art. It was here where she was exposed to textiles and dyeing techniques. "Clothes come alive through textiles. So different treatments, different kinds of textiles, it's part of the soul of our clothes," she said.

"My first introduction to natural dyes was in my undergrad textiles class. My teacher taught us how natural dyes work, and I saw that there are many sources of plant dyes in the Philippines and I appreciated that."

This appreciation further deepened when she took her Masters in Clothing Science in Japan. "Japan has a living tradition of natural dyeing... they took us to a natural dyeing studio, and this indigo dyer was already fifth generation, and I was really amazed at how it lasted so long and how the craft was passed down. My experience there really made me realize that craft should also be practiced in the Philippines because we have our own [dyeing practices]."