Negrense-made sustainable sneakers from pineapple leaves were among the 32 awardees of the “Good Design Award Philippines 2024” of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Design Center of the Philippines on Saturday, June 29.
The “Lakat Sustainable Sneakers” will represent the country in the Good Design Award Japan in Chiba, Japan, on August 7 to 8, a press release said.
Lakat Sustainable Sneakers, founded by Negrenses Micheal and Johanna Claparols, is a social enterprise that aims to create high-quality sneakers utilizing a supply chain that is 100 percent local, ethical, and eco-conscious.
The Good Design Award Philippines is a national, biennial design excellence recognition system that seeks to discover outstanding design works made and systems executed in the Philippines that address social problems to enrich the quality of human life, the Design Center of the Philippines said.
Lakat Sneakers won in the Object Making category among six other products made from different regions across the country.
Other categories include material innovation, image making, systems, and service design, and place making.
In partnership with the Philippine Textile Research Institute’s (PTRI) Technology Business Incubation Program, Lakat Sneakers gained access to technology that would allow them to produce sustainable yarns and fabrics using Philippine pineapple leaf fibers.
After the yarns are pre-treated, spun, and dyed at the PTRI, these materials are then sent to the Negros 9 Weaving Community in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
The press release also said that the rubbers used are sourced from family-run farms in Mindanao and Lakat is also working with shoemakers to assemble the sneakers in San Mateo, Rizal.
“If there is one emotion our winning entry can convey, it is hope”, Micheal Claparols said during the awarding, adding “Lakat Sustainable Sneakers” embody the hope for a future where fashion and sustainability co-exist harmoniously”.
He added that by using eco-friendly materials and supporting local communities, they aim
to inspire a positive change in the industry and show that it is possible to create stylish, high
quality products without compromising our planet’s well-being.
Lakat was selected by 35 jurors who cited the sneaker brand as a welcome alternative to bulky athletic shoes made from synthetic or animal-based materials.*