By Dara Clariza Evangelista
This is how Shell is reimagining the possibilities of fabric scraps
When you think of sustainability, you might picture solar panels or electric vehicles, but have you ever thought about giving your old clothes a new life? That’s exactly what Shell Pilipinas Corporation’s Balik-Likha initiative is all about: turning clothing waste into creativity and purpose.
Stylish was invited to join the Balik-Likha finalists for a day of sustainability immersion and design inspiration, and the experience was nothing short of eye-opening. We started our morning at SoFA Design Institute, where students gathered, buzzing with excitement before heading off together to Shell Mamplasan in Laguna.
After a quick stop at a cozy restaurant for the orientation (and some much-needed coffee), the group dove straight into the sustainability tour, literally. We got to see Shell Recharge stations, solar panels, and the lush green wall up close, all part of Shell’s push toward cleaner, renewable energy. It was a powerful reminder that sustainability isn’t abstract, it’s real, tangible, and beautifully designed.
Then came the part everyone loved: the weaving workshop. Inside the restaurant, the finalists rolled up their sleeves and learned how to transform old clothing into reusable yarn and new fabrics using a traditional handloom. It was fun, a little tricky, and surprisingly meditative. There was laughter, teamwork, and that special kind of quiet focus that only happens when creativity meets craft. Watching students work the looms together felt like watching sustainability in motion, thread by thread, idea by idea.
Now in its second year, Balik-Likha is more than just a clothing waste drive. It’s a smart design competition that’s earned Shell its first Gold Stevie® Award for Innovation in Sustainability – Reuse and Recycle. In 2024 alone, the initiative collected over 7,000 kilos of clothing waste, donated to partners like Malitam Women of Hope and Project Pearls, who upcycled the materials into functional, new creations.
For Fred Telarma, Shell’s Sustainability Lead, Balik-Likha represents the company’s broader goal of “Powering Progress”, the journey toward greener energy and empowered communities. “It’s not just about waste reduction,” he shared. “It’s about building awareness and showing that sustainability can be creative, inclusive, and exciting.”
The final presentation for the Interior Design and Fashion categories took place on October 10, leading up to a go-see, fashion show, and awarding ceremony on October 22, 2025, at Shell Business Operations, Solaris One, Makati City.
From the looms of Laguna to the runways of Makati, Balik-Likha proves that when innovation meets intention, sustainability can be beautiful, inside and out.
———————————————————–
Jasmine Curtis-Smith is on the cover of STYLISH Magazine right now, as she shares her thoughts on good storytelling in films, as she’s set to star in upcoming movies Open Night, a 2025 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival sapphic film entry; and Manila’s Finest, an upcoming 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) crime drama movie.
Read the Stylish Magazine September-October 2025 cover story here.
Watch out for a new #StylishPodcast episode featuring our cover girl Jasmine Curtis-Smith, dropping soon on Facebook and YouTube.
Stylish Magazine is “your source of self-love, style & inspiration” first introduced in June 2020. Our television series format, Stylish TV, once ranked one of the Top 50 Most Watched Multicultural Shows in the USA, can be streamed on iWantTFC and be watched on TFC (The Filipino Channel) in more than 50 countries. Watch it online here.
Style Visionary Network is a lifestyle-business online platform where #WeCreateVisionaries. Also introduced in June 2020, Style Visionary Network is also the digital home channel of media brands Stylish Magazine and Stylish TV.