URC Flour Collaborates With Eco-Friendly PH Brands to Create Sustainable Fashion

In today's world, sustainability is becoming an even more important priority not just for individuals and communities, but also for businesses that understand their impact on the environment. As a champion and advocate of sustainability, Universal Robina Corporation's Flour Division (URC Flour) makes it its mission to nurture partnerships with like-minded groups to create meaningful and impactful sustainable initiatives.

Recently, URC Flour collaborated with sustainable Filipino fashion brands AraPilak and Aecovas Apparel to create eco-friendly fashion lines by upcycling the company’s cotton sacks. By donating its cotton sacks, URC Flour was able to support these homegrown brands and reduce waste that would otherwise go into landfills.

Naida Dalisay Ebora, URC's Sales, Marketing, and Distribution Director, said that the partnerships with AraPilak and Aecovas Apparel were inspired by one of URC Flour’s initial corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects. In 2022, the company launched a CSR and community-building effort with Pasig City’s Barangay Bagong Ilog wherein a group of skilled seamstresses from the community upcycled cotton sacks donated by URC Flour into eco-friendly bags.

“This successful project has inspired us to partner with sustainable shops to upcycle cotton sacks into a clothing line,” she added.

Taking a big step toward a more sustainable future

It was essential for URC Flour to collaborate with groups that shared its goal, and the first in their roster of collaborators was Aecovas Apparel, a fashion brand that started out as a senior high school entrepreneurship project. According to Ebora, "When we came across an article showcasing students who created a clothing line using cotton sacks, we found their initiative truly inspiring."

In a nutshell, “Aecovas Apparel is a business that offers fashionably upcycled katsa clothes,” said Cheiyenne Marie E. Pasumbal, who co-owns the brand with Mary Antoinette B. Manzal. According to Pasumbal, Aecovas Apparel’s goal is to provide and promote great quality, affordable, and sustainable clothing options that aid in waste management and serve as an alternative to fast fashion.

When URC Flour approached her team, Pasumbal confessed to being “shocked and excited.” “We didn’t expect that as young students, we would have the chance to collaborate with such a big company and have that big of a support,” she added. "To others, this might just look like turning waste into clothing, but to us, it is a big step in creating a more sustainable future, influencing environmentally conscious youths, and living in a better world."

Although upcycling cotton sacks into clothes was laborious, Aecovas Apparel's initial launch saw positive reactions from customers. "We were very happy with this project with URC Flour as we are working toward the same goal. We think that businesses should consider these [types of projects] to move toward a common goal," Pasumbal and Manzal said.

Having a shared goal of creating a better planet

For its next collaborator, URC Flour was also thrilled to have found AraPilak, a well-established, sustainability-focused brand backed by a growing community of environmentally conscious consumers. The brand is known for creating timeless pieces that are wearable, stylish, and, most of all, sustainable.

“By supporting AraPilak, we assisted local seamstresses [and] contributed to their zero-waste campaign. These sustainable shops are bound to be embraced by many as it not only offers chic designs but also carry a compelling story behind their creation that aligns with our [mission],” URC Flour’s Ebora said.

According to Jude Rivera, the founder of AraPilak, the fashion brand was born out of her wish for her daughter to grow up in a clean and healthy environment surrounded by the beauty of nature, similar to the one she had. The enterprise started with a flour sack clothing line that allowed them to partner with local bakery shops and women, particularly single mothers looking for another source of income in the comforts of their homes.

When URC Flour first contacted her team, Rivera said she realized they shared a common goal of “creating a better planet.” “The relationship we have started with URC Flour empowers us to continue what we are doing,” she said.

The result of this partnership is the collection “Malaka,” from the Cuyonon word that means “rare.” Rivera said that “[Malaka] is a wonderful reflection of our collaboration with URC Flour as this is also the first time we are doing something like this. This rare collection features an infusion of modern and vintage designs that [are] fashionable and sustainable. Through the help of URC Flour, we’re able to realize inspiration.”

The collaboration between AraPilak and URC Flour has also sparked a delightful chorus of customer stories about cherished memories of growing up with katsa fabric. This kind of positive feedback motivated the AraPilak team to continue such efforts and look ahead to the future.

Embracing the sustainability journey ahead

URC Flour has made remarkable strides with its collaborations with AraPilak and Aecovas Apparel, generously donating over 2,000 cotton sacks to support their upcycling initiatives. As it looks to the future, the company is eager to continue these partnerships, inviting more people—customers, communities, and other stakeholders—to join it in its commitment to reduce waste through upcycling.

By empowering its customers to actively participate in this journey, Ebora said, URC Flour aims to foster a sense of “collective responsibility and empowerment,” helping to unite everyone to make a meaningful impact on the world. “Together, we can amplify the message of sustainability and contribute to a greener future,” she said.

For more information and updates on these collaborations, please visit the official Facebook pages of AraPilak and Aecovas Apparel.