What might our wardrobes look like if we became as familiar with piña as Lulu Tan-Gan? It’s an inviting thought when you consider how much of her career has been devoted to making beautiful textiles part of people’s lives. The designer began with knitwear for working women, developing pieces that could be washed and worn effortlessly, and her fascination with piña eventually led her to pursue that same convenience in a material she had admired since childhood.
Now, with her upcoming collection Tailored Traditions, the future of piña looks even more promising.
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Tan-Gan’s interpretation of the barong and the classic shirt brings Philippine craftsmanship into a wardrobe that’s timely. There’s a laidback confidence to her elegant pieces, as she chooses to leave them unlined, allowing their delicate texture to be appreciated through various layeringLayeringThe styling practice of wearing multiple garments or accessories together to create depth, texture, and warmth. Effective layering plays with proportions, lengths, and fabrics, and works in tropical climates too,Go to Layering Glossary combinations. One can easily imagine these garments becoming personal favorites, styled according to the occasion or simply the mood of the wearer.
Piña’s potential, in Tan-Gan’s eyes, is also closely tied to the people who produce it. Her philosophy of “farm-to-fashion” recognizes the provinces and weaving communities where these textile traditions continue. As she develops new uses for their craft, she looks forward to a fashion industry that remains connected to its origins.
“Tradition thrives when it evolves through contemporary participation. Adding that fashion-forward factor keeps tradition alive, relevant, and continuously inspiring.”
—LULU TAN-GAN
Each new way of wearing Tailored Traditions creates another opportunity that ripples through these artisan communities. And if more people come to regard piña as something they can enjoy in their daily lives, we may discover that its most exciting expressions are still waiting to be made.
Tailored Traditions launches this November at Lulu Tan-Gan’s pop-up space on the second floor of Power Plant Mall.
Photos courtesy of LULU TAN-GAN
Frequently Asked Questions
Tailored Traditions is Lulu Tan-Gan’s upcoming piña collection, reinterpreting the barong and the classic shirt for a contemporary wardrobe. The pieces are left unlined so the fabric’s delicate texture shows through, and they can be layered in various combinations according to the occasion or the wearer’s mood.
Tailored Traditions launches in November at Lulu Tan-Gan’s pop-up space on the second floor of Power Plant Mall in Makati. The collection is Tan-Gan’s upcoming piña line, featuring her interpretation of the barong and the classic shirt in unlined, layerable pieces.
Farm-to-fashion is Lulu Tan-Gan’s philosophy of recognizing the provinces and weaving communities where piña textile traditions continue. As she develops new uses for their craft, she aims for a fashion industry that remains connected to its origins and to the artisans who produce the fabric.
Piña is a fabric woven from pineapple leaf fibers, historically associated with formal Filipino dress such as the barong Tagalog and terno. Designers like Lulu Tan-Gan are expanding its everyday use, including in pieces such as the barong and classic shirt that suit contemporary wardrobes.
Lulu Tan-Gan began with knitwear for working women, designing pieces that could be washed and worn effortlessly. Her fascination with piña, a material she had admired since childhood, led her to pursue that same ease and convenience in the fabric, culminating in her Tailored Traditions collection.
