For years I had wanted to create a design from a rice sack, partly because the phrase “it’s like wearing a sack” was derogatory & meant you looked anything but glamorous, and partly because rice–and rice sacks–are such an intrinsic, ubiquitous part of everyday life in the Philippines.  So, a few months back, when Candy Dizon called to invite me to participate in a “Green Couture” show to raise awareness for the environment & the green movement (& raise funds for the benefit of the Waldorf school) I was thrilled.  I finally had a reason & purpose for creating a rice sack dress!

Inspired by local folklore, I imagined a Rice Goddess…

…rising from a heap of rice sack remains.  We started off with 20-25 rice sacks that we thoroughly washed & unraveled, before we painstakingly wove & sewed them back together again.

And the Rice Goddess rises once more!

*(Photos by Ito Ocampo)

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