North-Diamond visited the DOST-PTRI office with Bambuhay

On July 31 Wednesday, the North-Diamond Team, headed by Ariel J. Sardalla, North-Diamond Managing Director, together with Tony Adriano, ND Product Design & Development, and the ND staff; Aurelyn A. Mendoza (Public Relations), Marjorie D. Patibo (Customer Experience), and the ND documentation team, visited the DOST–PTRI [Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Textile Research Institute] office at Bicutan, Taguig City.

It was a successful visit as the ND team with BambuhayPH founder, Mark Gersava, listened to the discussions and explanations on the details involving Philippine Tropical Fabrics (PTF) in the Philippines presented by Ms. Evangeline Manalang, PTRI-Supervising Science Research Specialist.

Ms. Evangeline gave an introduction on the PTF, stating that year 2023 when they launched the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month as they are pushing boundaries for sustainable and competitive Philippine Textile-Garment Industry.

Ms. Evangeline Manalang, discuss about the Philippine Tropical Fabrics (PTF) particularly, the Bamboo as she explains the process of fiber-to-yarn transformation.

DOST1.1 — *Ms. Evangeline Manalang, discuss about the Philippine Tropical Fabrics (PTF) particularly, the Bamboo as she explains the process of fiber-to-yarn transformation.*

It aims to promote textile production using natural textile fibers, technologies, and industries in the country towards the revitalization of the local textile industry, including the generation of livelihood to barangays and communities. Promoting also the truly Filipino textile brand from natural textile fibers from the leaves of pineapple, abaca trunk sheet, banana stem, and Philippine silk, which are produced, spun, woven or knitted, and finished in the Philippines.

Another exciting part of the visit was the tour at the PTRI’s Innovation Center for Textiles and Yarns.

Untitled design (1) — Starting from right, Ms. Evangeline Manalang, PTRI’s Supervising Science Research Specialist, Marjorie Patibo (ND Customer Experience), Tony Adriano (ND Product Design & Devt.), Ariel Sardalla (ND Managing Director & Head of Business Development), Danny Lavin, PTRI-Technical Innovation Head, Mark Gersava, founder of BambuhayPH, and Aurelyn A. Mendoza (ND Public Relations).

DOST2.1 — Mr. Danny Lavin, PTRI Technical Innovation Specialist explain the yarn production, stating that they were producing 150 kilos yarn per day, a small fraction compared to large industries that produces tons per day.

Stated in the DOST-PTRI facebook page is the visit of North-Diamond and BambuhayPH acknowledged both appreciation for the quality of yarns and fabrics made from these fibers. Thus, recognized a potential market for integrating such materials into furnishings and home textiles.

Some photos courtesy of DOST-PTRI’s FB page

ND Managing Director Ariel Sardalla with PTRI Director, Dr. Julius Leaño Jr., Tony Adriano, Interior Designer, and Mark Gersava, founder of BambuhayPH.