THE sustainable fashion movement is on the rise. With popular brands like Gucci and Stella McCartney launching more and more collections focused on sustainability and environmental friendliness, many more people are participating in the cause. 

Project PH is one of the shops in the Philippines focused on creating clothing from katsa or flour sacks in order to recycle and reduce waste. Started in 2020 by couple Cris Lyca Accad and Arvin Joseph Accad, the brand initially came about as a means of reworking tops from thrifted clothing.

“We started reworking clothes from my closet, Nike socks, then katsa,” said Cris.

Their Garden Hat Superior was their first item to become a hit. 

The popular garden hat | Photo courtesy: Project PH

Behind the designs

Criss is someone who believes that there’s no limit when it comes to knowledge, and that it’s the most precious thing you can share with the world. She does just that with her designs, alongside her husband and their dressmaker.

So far, their favorite collection has been their Runway Collection, released back in 2022. 

The Garden Hat has constantly been their best seller, while Criss considers their Terno Skirt as one of their most underrated items. Other designs she holds close to her heart are their Plain Katsa Hats and Plain Coveralls.

Criss said they often find inspiration through Pinterest and look at different trends on sites like TikTok to come up with their pieces.

It’s not just about fashion

When asked why they created the business, Criss explained that they wanted to bring Project PH to life as a means of reducing waste in the country.

“We love nature, so we are trying our best to save it by our little way of repurposing used flour sacks,” she said. 

Criss also pointed out that fast fashion has a negative impact on the environment, given how it produces a lot of waste due to mass production. This is why, through Project PH, she and Arvin promote slow fashion and unique pieces made from recycled flour sacks that they collect from local bakeries.

“From waste sacks to fashionable clothes,” Criss proudly said. 

And their journey toward waste management doesn’t end there. They also make good use of the scraps they garner from making their clothes by turning these into scrunchies. 

Sustainability is incorporated into everything, down to the buttons on the shirts that they make out of coconut so that they can reduce their usage of plastic even more.

Project PH owners Criss and Arvin Accad | Photo courtesy: Project PH

The push to reduce waste

Now, more than ever, there is a need to become conscious of how all of our choices affect the environment, as it was discovered in 2022 that only 9 percent of plastic waste worldwide is recycled, while the rest is often mishandled or simply left to pollute the environment.

Many are making the effort to reduce waste found in the environment: switching to metal straws over plastic ones, bringing eco-bags to the groceries, and segregating garbage properly. 

But the fashion industry–fast fashion in particular–is one of the most wasteful ones on the globe. In 2022, it was found that it pushes out around 92 million tons of textile waste per year, and when it comes to plastic waste, 40 percent of it also comes from this.

Clothes are items that we wear every day; if you’re going to be spending thousands of pesos on things you’ll be using regularly, why not spend it on fabric that’s good for you and the environment?

Where to get it

Project PH items are available online on Shopee, Instagram, and TikTok.

It is also available in physical stores; currently, its items are displayed at Goodies Siargao and Wanderskye in Boracay.

And surprise surprise! Something else to look forward to is the pop-up shop it will be putting up soon in Tagaytay, which the couple is greatly looking forward to.

“Connecting to our customers and meeting them personally is the happiest thing ever,” Criss said.