Today, the focus is on stinging #nettle fibers has been driven by concerns over the #environmental damage caused by the production of fiber such as water, pesticides, and energy intensive cotton cultivation. In the hunt for new, ecologically friendly fabrics, stinging nettle fiber has come up smelling of roses. It grows naturally in the forest free from chemicals and machines , has lower CO2_emission natural fiber than organic cotton.
There are lots of different kind plant origin natural fibers available in Uttarakhand. Among them Rambans (Agave cantala), Bhimal (Grewia optiva), Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), Stinging Nettle (Gerardinia diversifolia) are found to grow in abundance and are linked intrinsically to the tribal communities as part of the living craft cultures. Small scale economic activity by local artisans is centered on these fibers, pilot case studies carried by us demonstrated the potential for industrialization and commercialization of these fiber.
Himalayan Nettle (Girardinia diversifolia)
Himalayan Nettle is a wild grass species grow in the forest of upper reaches of Himalayas in Chamoli and Uttarkashi district of Uttrakhand. The plant attain a height of up to 12 to 18 feet in height. The Plant has been generally found in broad leaf forest, having a high leaf litter fall. Different pockets of Uttarakhand has traditionally used the plant fiber for making domestic products like ropes and other rope based products such as slippers used by, Locally the products like Chappel, Ghana, Natesh, Jotan.
Nettle fibers for garment production literally means going back to the roots as people have worn clothes made from nettle fibers and yarns for the past 2,000 years with earliest traces being found from the late Bronze Age in Voldtofte, Denmark.
Today, new advances in spinning technologies and cross-breeding has produced super high-nettle plants that are strong, flexible, versatile and a good length for spinning. Nettle fabric is an unusual textile that seems to defy logic: as the name implies, this strong, lustrous fabric is derived from the nettle plant. German designer Gesine Jost proves the usefulness of the material in her studio in Düsseldorf, where she displays pullovers, cardigans, t-shirts, skirts and a coat made from stinging nettle yarn
In 2004, Florence-based fashion house #CorpoNove introduced jeans with nettle yarn that were a huge hit at Selfridges. #Netl, a Dutch fashion label, collaborated with sustainable designer #RiannedeWitte for a first collection that featured clothes in vibrant colors and geometric shapes that were a blend of 75 percent cotton and 25 nettle yarns.
Himalayan Nettle is natural moth repellent which is rather interesting, and can be used to make exfoliation scrubs and bags, jewelry, hammocks, rugs and many more fiber projects.
Some notable Properties of Nettle Fabrics
- Despite it’s armored exterior, nettle fibers inside are surprisingly ideal for textile production.
- The nettle fibers are pliable and a good length to be spun into yarn.
- The final woven nettle fabric is similar to linen- but much stronger (it’s strength even increases when wet) and a bit stiffer, making it ideal for more structured garments.
- It blends nicely with other fibers, which can help to add softness and increase longevity when needed Nettle fiber.
Nettle clothing is cool in the summer and warm in winter
Nettle fibers provide natural air conditioning. How? Well, nettle fibers are hollow, which means they are filled with air inside, which creates a natural insulation. Yarn producers use this property by twisting the yarn lengths closed for cool summer clothes to reduce insulation while using a low twist for winter clothes to keep the hollow fiber open to allow for a constant temperature
Nettle Fiber Properties
The mechanical performances of stinging nettle fibres are measured and compared to flax and other lignocellulosic fibers. The stress/strain curve of stinging nettle fibers (Urtica dioica) shows they have a linear behavior. The average tensile properties are a Young's modulus equal to 87 GPa, a tensile strength equal to 1594 MPa, and a strain at failure equal to 2.11%.
The mechanical properties of Himalayan giant nettle (Girardinia diversifolia L.) fibre are measured and compared to those for European nettle (Urtica dioica L.) fibre. The mean length of G. diversifoliafibre is substantially higher than U. dioica fibre, and the longest fibre length reported for any bast fibre. G. diversifolia and U. dioica fibres have similar cross-sectional area, but G. diversifolia fibre is a wider, flatter, oval shape with a significantly wider lumen. G. diversifolia fibres display a generally linear stress/strain curve. Ultimate stress value for G. diversifolia fibre is over twice that of U. dioica fibre, and the highest of any bast fibre reported. G. diversifolia fibre also displays greatest strain at failure of any bast fibre. Young's modulus for G. diversifolia and U. dioica fibre are similar. Himalayan giant nettle fibres display tensile properties that offer potential in high performance applications.
Sustainability Card! Nettle in textiles is highly ideal.
The plant grows almost uncontrollably, making it a quickly #renewable resource. The process involved in the production of the fabric, though labor-intensive, is done by hand. This cuts down on chemicals, energy, machinery and pollution that are often involved in the production of other textiles. The hand made aspect also adds to the value and #luxury of the fabric
Easy Availability
But that's not all - stinging Himalayan nettle fibers are extremely versatile easily available in Uttarakahnd . There is no legal issue with the cultivation of nettles, which has made the plant a and viable legal cash crop. #RayHarwood, Professor of the textile engineering and materials research group at Leicester's #DeMontfortUniversity, believes that nettle fibers, yarns and clothes are the materials of the future. He is involved in the first contemporary British project to develop nettles as a fabric, which is aptly called #STING - Sustainable Technologies in Nettle Growing.
Opportunities
Himalayan Nettle thus have promising future for Ethical brands looking for further improve their sustainability report card. Himalayan Nettle in Uttarakhand has lot of opportunities for #socialinvestor in nettle fiber extraction technology, #fineyarnmaking, new product development, carbon neutral earth friendly processing, #green certification.
We invite social investor, ethical fashion designer, partner with us in this wonderful journey.
Today, the focus is on stinging #nettle fibers has been driven by concerns over the #environmental damage caused by the production of fiber such as water, pesticides, and energy intensive cotton cultivation. In the hunt for new, ecologically friendly fabrics, stinging nettle fiber has come up smelling of roses. It grows naturally in the forest free from chemicals and machines , has lower CO2_emission natural fiber than organic cotton.
There are lots of different kind plant origin natural fibers available in Uttarakhand. Among them Rambans (Agave cantala), Bhimal (Grewia optiva), Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), Stinging Nettle (Gerardinia diversifolia) are found to grow in abundance and are linked intrinsically to the tribal communities as part of the living craft cultures. Small scale economic activity by local artisans is centered on these fibers, pilot case studies carried by us demonstrated the potential for industrialization and commercialization of these fiber.
Himalayan Nettle (Girardinia diversifolia)
Himalayan Nettle is a wild grass species grow in the forest of upper reaches of Himalayas in Chamoli and Uttarkashi district of Uttrakhand. The plant attain a height of up to 12 to 18 feet in height. The Plant has been generally found in broad leaf forest, having a high leaf litter fall. Different pockets of Uttarakhand has traditionally used the plant fiber for making domestic products like ropes and other rope based products such as slippers used by, Locally the products like Chappel, Ghana, Natesh, Jotan.
Nettle fibers for garment production literally means going back to the roots as people have worn clothes made from nettle fibers and yarns for the past 2,000 years with earliest traces being found from the late Bronze Age in Voldtofte, Denmark.
Today, new advances in spinning technologies and cross-breeding has produced super high-nettle plants that are strong, flexible, versatile and a good length for spinning. Nettle fabric is an unusual textile that seems to defy logic: as the name implies, this strong, lustrous fabric is derived from the nettle plant. German designer Gesine Jost proves the usefulness of the material in her studio in Düsseldorf, where she displays pullovers, cardigans, t-shirts, skirts and a coat made from stinging nettle yarn
In 2004, Florence-based fashion house #CorpoNove introduced jeans with nettle yarn that were a huge hit at Selfridges. #Netl, a Dutch fashion label, collaborated with sustainable designer #RiannedeWitte for a first collection that featured clothes in vibrant colors and geometric shapes that were a blend of 75 percent cotton and 25 nettle yarns.
Himalayan Nettle is natural moth repellent which is rather interesting, and can be used to make exfoliation scrubs and bags, jewelry, hammocks, rugs and many more fiber projects.
Some notable Properties of Nettle Fabrics
- Despite it’s armored exterior, nettle fibers inside are surprisingly ideal for textile production.
- The nettle fibers are pliable and a good length to be spun into yarn.
- The final woven nettle fabric is similar to linen- but much stronger (it’s strength even increases when wet) and a bit stiffer, making it ideal for more structured garments.
- It blends nicely with other fibers, which can help to add softness and increase longevity when needed Nettle fiber.
Nettle clothing is cool in the summer and warm in winter
Nettle fibers provide natural air conditioning. How? Well, nettle fibers are hollow, which means they are filled with air inside, which creates a natural insulation. Yarn producers use this property by twisting the yarn lengths closed for cool summer clothes to reduce insulation while using a low twist for winter clothes to keep the hollow fiber open to allow for a constant temperature
Nettle Fiber Properties
The mechanical performances of stinging nettle fibres are measured and compared to flax and other lignocellulosic fibers. The stress/strain curve of stinging nettle fibers (Urtica dioica) shows they have a linear behavior. The average tensile properties are a Young's modulus equal to 87 GPa, a tensile strength equal to 1594 MPa, and a strain at failure equal to 2.11%.
The mechanical properties of Himalayan giant nettle (Girardinia diversifolia L.) fibre are measured and compared to those for European nettle (Urtica dioica L.) fibre. The mean length of G. diversifoliafibre is substantially higher than U. dioica fibre, and the longest fibre length reported for any bast fibre. G. diversifolia and U. dioica fibres have similar cross-sectional area, but G. diversifolia fibre is a wider, flatter, oval shape with a significantly wider lumen. G. diversifolia fibres display a generally linear stress/strain curve. Ultimate stress value for G. diversifolia fibre is over twice that of U. dioica fibre, and the highest of any bast fibre reported. G. diversifolia fibre also displays greatest strain at failure of any bast fibre. Young's modulus for G. diversifolia and U. dioica fibre are similar. Himalayan giant nettle fibres display tensile properties that offer potential in high performance applications.
Sustainability Card! Nettle in textiles is highly ideal.
The plant grows almost uncontrollably, making it a quickly #renewable resource. The process involved in the production of the fabric, though labor-intensive, is done by hand. This cuts down on chemicals, energy, machinery and pollution that are often involved in the production of other textiles. The hand made aspect also adds to the value and #luxury of the fabric
Easy Availability
But that's not all - stinging Himalayan nettle fibers are extremely versatile easily available in Uttarakahnd . There is no legal issue with the cultivation of nettles, which has made the plant a and viable legal cash crop. #RayHarwood, Professor of the textile engineering and materials research group at Leicester's #DeMontfortUniversity, believes that nettle fibers, yarns and clothes are the materials of the future. He is involved in the first contemporary British project to develop nettles as a fabric, which is aptly called #STING - Sustainable Technologies in Nettle Growing.
Opportunities
Himalayan Nettle thus have promising future for Ethical brands looking for further improve their sustainability report card. Himalayan Nettle in Uttarakhand has lot of opportunities for #socialinvestor in nettle fiber extraction technology, #fineyarnmaking, new product development, carbon neutral earth friendly processing, #green certification.
We invite social investor, ethical fashion designer, partner with us in this wonderful journey. Contact: www.descatuk.com descatuk@yahoo.com
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