A small cohort of the Central Saint Martins’ MA program in Regenerative Design collaborated with Hiblatech, a b2b fiber-to-textile company based in the Philippines, on a research sprint. Hiblatech hoped to work with local pineapple farmers to find innovative and alternative sources for the fiber created from leaf waste after harvesting. Our goal was to expand the regenerative fiber inquiry and modes of application. How could we grow product awareness and identify new markets?

Our cohort conducted individual research and systems mapping, working toward modes of change both active-real and imaginary-speculative. We looked at the raw / intermediate material – i.e., wovens, nonwovens, felt, yarns, staple fibers, etc., used in possible products and imagined how such usage might reduce the negative environmental impact of current production and end-of-life processes. Upstream considerations were also addressed, i.e., how this work might result in socio-economic benefits accruing to the farmers and their communities and how we might mitigate unwanted ecological impacts on the land and the more-than-human.

Author note: Given recent events with Mycoworks, Pinatex, Natural Fiber Welding, and others, I’d like to write a follow-on note to this post. (4 Nov 2025)