PRESIDENT DUTERTE WEARS PIÑA SHOES

Date Posted June 2017

President Rody Duterte proudly wears a pair of comfortable brown sneakers made from Pineapple leaves during an event in Malacañang. The shoes were manufactured by Ananas Anam of Spain using pineapple fibers produced in Labo, Camarines Norte. The shoes are made from a newly-developed natural and sustainable textile material called “Piñatex” which is now being used as an alternative to leather.

The pair of shoes was given by Ms. Carmen Hijosa. She is a Spanish citizen and has been working in the design and manufacturing of leather goods for almost 15 years. She was sent to the Philippines years ago to work with the Design Center of the Philippines and help develop the leather industry. Her intense research on pineapple fibers led to the development of this new material and the creation of the company Ananas Anam.

Piñatex has much more advantage over the leather derived from live animals because it only comes from the skin so there is 30% waste. The fibers for Piñatex, however, are extracted entirely from the leaves of pineapple so there is much less waste. It looks, acts and performs like leather. It is also natural, renewable and eco-friendly.

Pineapple leaves, an agricultural waste just left in the field to rot and refertilize the soil, is now an international commodity used in making shoes for Puma, car seats for luxury cars, bags and designer sofas and seats.

Ananas Anam has been working with the Labo Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LPMPC) since 2014. This undertaking has brought new income opportunities for pineapple farmers in the province of Camarines Norte.