Pineapple fiber or Piña is a strong white or creamy cobweb-like fiber drawn from tall leaves of an indigenous pineapple plant. The fiber is hand stripped from the leaves in lengths of about 18 inches to 3 feet, sun-bleached, hand knotted and spun. As piña fiber recovery is only about 1%, it can take six months to gather enough fiber to produce two pounds of spun piña.
This video is a news clip from Asia Brief, a news channel in China. It features the genuine piña cloth from the Philippines. Pineapple fabric was discovered in the early 18th century. This fabric is use to make shirts being worn by rich businessmen and politicians during that time. This fabric is made from the leaf of a wild pineapple which can be found only in the western part of the Visayan Island, Philippines. Fibers are meticulously extracted from the leaf and made into threads. These sensitive threads are then patiently hand woven into a fine cloth by middle aged women using handmade bamboo equipment. The fabric’s width is 26 to 28 inches. A yard of Pineapple cloth can be done in a week time, working ten hours a day.
Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. –Oscar Wilde
In my last blog, I introduced a very interesting girl who has a different sense of fashion. I met her in a mall in Cainta and became one of my closest friends. Her name is Tek Reyes, a college student taking up B.S Nursing, loves to fit tons of dresses in the fitting room but doesn’t buy any, laughs like there is no tomorrow and dips her French fries in Coke float. Perceived as Jologs by people who doesn’t know her but unique and extraordinary according to her friends.
I admire Tek because of her “Be Yourself” attitude. She is very spontaneous and believes that expressing ones individuality makes him/her standout from the rest.
Here are some of the things that I learned from Tek on how to be yourself:
*Find yourself-you must know, understand and accept yourself first.
*Stop caring about how other people perceive you
*Follow your own style- you don’t need to copy other's actions to fit in.
*Develop and express your individuality-whether it’s your sense of style, or even your manner of speaking, if you prefer to do things that are different from most of the people do, then be proud of it. Unless it is destructible to yourself and others.
*Believe in who you are- if you are interested in something that doesn’t interest most of the people, don’t be afraid or hide it; stand up and show your true and inner self.
*Respectothers as well-you shouldn’t disrespect people who disagree with you; they have the privilege of being themselves as you do.
*Nobody is perfect-don’t think that being yourself means that you cannot change who you are. If you want to be a person that you can be proud of and there is some way you can improve yourself, go for it. There’s always a room for self-improvement.
Being yourself is celebrating you as an individual, not hiding who you are or changing things about you just to fit in, learning to love and express yourself and be happy with who you are. Don’t worry about anything but being yourself and live life to the fullest!
I admire people who are confident with themselves and don’t get affected by other people’s criticism about them.
I was in a shopping mall somewhere in Cainta when a girl caught my attention. She was laughing with her friends, they’re talking about a “JOLOGS girl” (that is what they name her) who passed by a while ago. In an instant, my attention automatically shifted to the girl that they are talking about. She was wearing a skirt with red and white stripes that labanderas in the ilog usually wear (according to the gossiping girls), gray shirt with the picture of Jose Rizal printed on it, a pair of black flip flops and a huge backpack. I’m sure that she heard the giggling of the group of girls and what they are saying about her but she doesn’t get affected at all. I was surprised with her reaction so I followed her and talked to her as well.
She was Tek Reyes (TEK is her nickname), a 19 year old nursing student. I found out that she was used to all kinds of criticism. She states that she was “immune” and doesn’t get affected by what others comment about the way she dresses. She told me that she is comfortable with what she wears and she was just being herself. She also admitted that the set of friends that she have are “JOLOGS” too. JOLOGS is what they call themselves because that is what our society classify them as. But what do we literally mean by the word JOLOGS?
According to WikiPilipinas.org, JOLOGS is a Filipino slang term/word used to describe or depict a person who is out-of-style, trashy-looking, pathetically cheap and corny. It is sometimes equated with another Filipino word for cheaply-dressed person, BADUY. Filipino linguists offer different theories concerning the origin of the word. Some say that it came from a food called “Dyolog”(dilis and itlog)-the food of the poor, some say that it is named after a cheap disco, Jaloux while some state that it originated from the Jolina Organization. Whatever its origin was, having Jologs as a term to classify a person’s sense of style is a form of discrimination.
I do believe that nobody has the right to discriminate a person just because he or she doesn’t share the same taste in fashion that the people in upper classes have. Respect for anyone's individuality is what we must all learn.
I saw these really cool shoes in Louis Vuitton Resource Center!
These shoes are called Cancan, named after a lively, high-kicking stage dance originating in 19th-century Parisian music halls and performed by women in long skirts and petticoats.
They are designed by Marc Jacobs, the current Creative Director of the prestigious French design house Louis Vuitton, for the Fall/Winter Collection 2009.
LEFT: Cancan Ankle Strap Pump in Brocade Fabric.
This Cancan Pump in Brocade fabric, most likely silk, comes in color gold and is woven with elevated pattern in gold thread making it look dazzling. It also has a black velvet ribbon and its heels are accessorized with two pearls (one in gold, and one in white).
RIGHT: Cancan Ankle Strap Pump in Suede Baby Goat Leather.
Made from the elastic but delicate suede baby goat leather, this Cancan pump like its sisters has a black velvet ribbon , has a leather sole and its conical heels are accessorized with two pearls (one in black, and one in white). Its blackness together with the white pearl made it look so elegant!
Cancan Ankle Pump in Satin and Lace.
This one’s my favorite! A combination of satin and lace made these shoes look French-y!
These fabulous Cancans are tied in the ankle using the black velvet ribbon, has a leather sole and its heels are accessorized with two pearls. This pump comes in two colors: Red (with white pearl) and Pink (with gold pearl).
LEFT: Cancan High Boot in Suede Baby Goat Leather and Patent Calf Leather.
If you're into high boots, this version of the Cancan is perfect for you. The shoe is made in suede baby goat leather with a ruffle accent at the top made from patent calf leather.
CENTER: Cancan Thigh Boot in Calf Leather.
This sexily laced thigh boots features zippers on both sides, a leather sole, and a conical heel accessorized with two pearls (black and white). These boots are entirely made from calf leather!
RIGHT: Cancan Thigh Boot in Brocade Fabric.
Made from a deluxe brocade leather from the toe to the thigh, it’s an eye-catcher isn’t it? It features a black velvet ribbon and zippers on both sides, and its heels are accessorized with two pearls (gold and white).
These shoes surely gave the 18th century Cancan a new twist!
