The nettle stems contain a type of fiber called "raffia fiber". This material is extracted by means of a maceration similar to that used for linen, a plant with which it shares many application destinations.
Unlike cotton instead, nettles grow easily and do not require the use of pesticides. On the other hand, they are rather coarse to the touch (perhaps more similar to those of hemp).
Historically, for 2000 years, nettles have been used to produce clothing. During the First World War, due to the lack of cotton, German army uniforms were woven with nettle fibers.
More recently, some companies located in Austria, Germany and Italy have started to produce other commercial nettle-based fabrics.
Nettles can also be used as a textile dye, thanks to the yellow dye produced from the roots or the green dye of the leaves.
