stinging nettle

Future Materials Encounter #4 Stinging nettle with Studio laVina and Varvara Lazareva

Stinging nettle is often considered a weed. Like many overlooked fibers, nettle has a long, storied history: it was a source for clothes, fishing nets, sailing ropes, traditional medicine, and food.

Local fiber revivalists have revitalized the craft of preparing nettle for use. One duo out of Europe, featured in the video left, are Polina Baikina (Studio laVina) and Verara Lazareva. They make modern products and re-think production techniques, including extracting pigment (green and yellow). It can be a food, fiber, or dye.

Link to an article written by Fibershed about Dogbane, Stinging Nettle, and Milkweed.