Tan-Gan: Romancing the knit

THIS BAMBOO-LACED VEST is an example of Tan-Gan's 'Indigenous Couture'

MANILA, Philippines - The name Lulu Tan-Gan is synonymous to fashionable knitwear.

And for good reason: the lady dubbed "the queen of knitwear" has been designing knits since 1985.

But her success in the industry has not stopped Lulu from embracing what she calls a "design evolution."

Simply put, from knits, she has opened her arms wider and welcomed indigenous fabrics and materials, such as the pineapple fiber and even bamboo.

Lulu calls this line "Indigenous Couture," her way of paying her success forward to ethnic Filipino fabric weavers, respecting tradition, preserving the culture and showing the world how rich our country is.

FILIPINO OR FILIPINO-INSPIRED designs are what Tan-Gan is now all about. Photo by Kai Magsanoc

Lulu also supports aspiring Filipino designers by giving them space in her store at the Filipino Zone of Greenbelt 5, as in the case of a rising accessory designer whose pieces Lulu proudly wore during our interview.

Fluid, practical and nationalistic.

These 3 words best describe Lulu Tan-Gan's designs today:

• They are fluid because they move easily with your body and are comfortable
• They are practical because they are easy to handle and maintain as much as they are easy to wear — perfect for jetsetters and frequent travelers
• They are nationalistic because they have a touch of Filipino indigenous materials, design and inspiration - Rappler.com