IT?S HARD but it?s doable.

That?s fashion designer Patrice Ramos Diaz on how realistic it is to be green in the rag trade.

Diaz, owner of the boutique Paradi in Greenbelt 5 Makati, is among those tapped by Ayala Malls, her landlord, in designing Eco Tote Earth-friendly bags to bolster the mall?s environment-awareness campaign called ?Greenology.?

Ayala Malls take pride in being a pioneer of sustainable practices in local malls, beginning from the designs of its buildings that require, say, less air conditioning, according to Marivic Añonuevo, Ayala Malls group SVP and group head. It also incorporates green patches or mini-parks in its malls. In building Greenbelt, for instance, the architects designed the buildings around the age-old trees to avoid having them felled.

?It costs more at the onset,? Diaz, who has been developing her own fabrics using local fibers, added. ?But it can be done... Since it?s more expensive, you also need to make some adjustments,? such as by targeting a higher-end market.

At the Greenology launch recently, the mall presented the bag creations of six designers, all of them Greenbelt 5 merchants in the Filipino Zone: Louis Claparols (Myth), Michi Calica Sotto (Bonne Bouche), Vic Barba (Barba), Jun Escario (Jun Escario), Randy Ortiz (Myth) and Diaz.

To be sold each at P400 beginning this month at every Ayala Mall concierge, P100 per purchase will go to World Wide Fund, while P75 will go to each designer?s chosen charity or organization.

Diaz has picked Haribon Foundation?s seedling project to benefit from sales of her cotton twill-and-Quiapo kumot (blanket) bags. Claparols, a dog-lover, has chosen the Philippine Animal Welfare Society for his multi-pocket extra-large totes that could fit toy dogs.

Ortiz, who has been working with Marikina shoemakers, tapped the local cobblers as beneficiary in hopes of reviving the city?s shoe and leather industry. Barba, who had once worked with Gifts and Graces Foundation to turn his fabric scraps into bags for his boutique, chose this group that supports marginalized communities.

Sotto?s beneficiary is the Earth Day Network, which campaigns for proper waste management. Escario?s bags will benefit an elderly home called Gasa sa Gugma.

Apart from the reusable totes, the mall merchants also previewed their Green Line, a limited collection of clothing and accessories using eco-friendly materials. From September 16-30, these will be available at Bayo, Folded & Hung, Aranaz, Religioso, Gaupo, Arnel Papa, Ana Rocha and at the boutiques of the Eco Tote designers.

On August 28-September 11, all Ayala Malls will also host an exhibit of so-called Eco Art, art installations that highlight the trash that accumulates from using plastic and paper cups. Participating artists are Alma Quinto, Pete Jimenez, Mac Valdezco, Ral Arrogante and students from various universities.

The mall chain, in partnership with Globe Telecom, Ayala Land and Bantay Kalikasan, will also host a 3K, 5K, 10K and 21K marathon called Eco Dash on September 11 at Bonifacio High Street. A cash donation of P100,000 will go to Bantay Kalikasan. Avid marathoners like Nina Huang (who vowed to run 21K), Leica Carpo, Tessa Valdes and Mandy Santos were present at the launch.