Global Change Award Winner 2019: Green Nettle Textile

Growing nettles to create sustainable fashion and livelihoods.

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What do you grow in hard-to-access, thin-soiled steep slopes where irrigation is tricky, and machines can’t reach? The solution is as simple as it’s brilliant – you grow what would grow there naturally.

Stinging nettles are true survivors, requiring just some sun, a minimum of water and whatever soil you have. In return, the plant provides stalks that can be turned into a sustainable linen-like fabric. Process leftovers can be used to make paper and dyes.

Besides potentially providing job opportunities and nutrients for more than 200 000 small holder farmers across Kenya alone, organic nettle fabric is a welcome, environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fabrics. Not to mention the fact that the stinging nettle; a plant with an unfairly bad rep, finally gets the appreciation it deserves.

And no, the fabric doesn’t sting.