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Pandan

pandan plant … the magic change-over of useless shoreline shrubs to priceless collectibles, is what the story of the Filipino Pandan is all about.

Pandan (Pandanus Tectorius), sometimes called screw pines, are tropical shrubs. They got the name screw pines because their leaves are similar to those of the pineapple and grow from the stem in corkscrew fashion. They are hardly ever cultivated, except for those raised in clay pots as ornamental plants. Pandan usually grows wildly along the seacoast or open swamps.

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In the Philippines, these otherwise useless shrubs are creatively woven into mats, beautiful baskets, bags and hats. Pandan can also be an excellent material for throw pillows. Designers can incorporate pandan mats into furniture as a decorative inlay feature.

Some common varieties of pandan are karagumoy, sabutan, alasas and ayango.


Sabutan

A specie of Pandan that can reach a height of 2 to 4 meters, its leaves turning dark green when mature and ready of harvesting. The processing of sabutan leaves into different handicraft items consists of two major procedures: the preparation of sabutan leaves into fibers and the weaving of these fibers. Compared to the other raw materials used to make similar handicraft items, sabutan fibers are stronger and smoother in texture.

Compared with the pandan leaf, the sabutan leaf provides a finer and more sophisticated finish to any fashion accessory. The material is dyed in green, yellow, orange and aqua, along with other color combinations. It can be woven in asymmetrical patterns and shapes.