Reference: https://www.uusimaaseutu.fi/nokkosesta-ja-kuituhampusta-ekologisia-tekstiileja/

 

Ecological textiles from nettle and hemp fibre

The Stinging nettle is an ancient plant fibre whose silky fibres were popular in clothing and interior textiles of the royalties. The coarser nettle fibres were utilized in sacks and fishing nets. The fact that the products were dismantled and re-made into another products indicates that the fibre was highly valued. Also, nettle and hemp grow on very little water, without herbicides or pesticides. Sales channels Sanna Kuoppamäki-Luomansuu founded the company Knokkon Textiles Company in June 2019. The main products are fabrics and yarns. There are two types of yarn, one includes nettle and organic cotton and the other has nettle, hemp fibre and organic cotton. All Knokkon fabrics are made from these yarns. -The selection also includes a few finished products, such as towels and bedding. The finished products are to attract consumers to get acquainted with the fabric and material, Kuoppamäki-Luomansuu says. The company has its own online store through which there are sales to both businesses and consumers. There are currently two reseller and one retailers buying fabrics and making products for sale. Characteristics of nettle and hemp Nettle fibre is a combination of silk and linen, the luxury and dim shine of silk, and the practicality of linen. The material can also be used in clothing for everyday use. -The Stinging nettle is the most breathable natural fibre  because its core fiber is porous, it has practically small holes. All bast fibres are hollow, but the porous core fiber of nettle makes it breathe much better than linen, for example, Kuoppamäki-Luomansuu says. The nettle fabric is pleasantly warm and much more flexible than linen, the fact that there is cotton among it also affects. Nettle, as well as hemp fibre, which Kuoppamäki-Luomansuu also uses in its products, is decorticated mechanically. Nettle and hemp are not soaked at all, but are cut in the field and left in the field for some time to ripen. Kuoppamäki-Luomansuu says that both nettle and hemp look surprisingly similar in yarn or fabric and the difference is obviously not big.
Nettles in textiles
Finnish production in the future Nettle and hemp are grown in Germany and organic cotton comes from Turkey. In Germany, the fibers are combined and spun into yarn. Further processing takes place in Finland and the fabrics are subcontracted in Finland. If necessary, the weaving mill can produce a large amount of fabric. Finished products are sewn in Vihti. -For the time being, raw materials are not available in Finland, but the wish and goal is to find suitable people and machinery so that Finnish production could start.
Currently, the decortication method in Germany is the only one in the world that can extract the highest quality fibres from stems, the so-called elementary fibres. The method can be used to remove surplus, ie extra substances, from the stems. The method has only recently been developed, and it will be a while before similar equipment is available in Finland. In Finland, nettle is grown, but the leaves are mainly used for nutritional purposes. If we could find the right people in Finland who could finance and provide their know-how and contract farmers who would boldly go to try fibre production, I would be interested in joining. The nettles must be tall and long-stemmed and it will take some time before you get fields that produce enough fibre, but that is possible. Application process Kuoppamäki-Luomansuu applied for start-up support from the ELY Center,  Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, well before she founded the company. She made the application online and stated that it took a quite long time to make the application. -The questions in the application brings you really close to your company and ensures that there is a really profitable business. There were a lot of good questions in the application. It is also important to limit our own activities so that I do not start doing everything, says Kuoppamäki-Luomansuu. Kuoppamäki-Luomansuu has a business background and has made application  applied for work, but says that he understands that if there is no previous experience, it may be a bit challenging. But she thinks it’s good to have to think things through the company thoroughly, because you can see that something she had had in mind really doesn’t work. -I received feedback that the business plan doesn’t have to go into such small details, it is enough to write, for example, that the e-commerce order is from a Finnish service provider and the price is roughly this and this much. It is perhaps the most difficult thing to think in advance how to use the entire money, because you need to two or three years ahead from now, Kuoppamäki-Luomansuu says. However, it was clear to the entrepreneur where the money would be put in as she pursues internationality. The online shop must also in English. She also pre-budgeted for communication and marketing consultation because she understood their importance. With the help of an consult, she drew up a plan for how to communicate on different channels and how to showcase the product when it comes to new material. Scandinavian region notoriety -My online store is also for wholesalers and I am looking forward to corporate clients who would be interested in sewing fabrics for a clothing collection. I don’t intend to make my own clothing collections and I stick to the simple ones in my own products that act as an appetizer to showcase the materials. I have a few of my own products that are important, of course, but I don’t want to compete with my customers. Kuoppamäki-Luomansuu is currently looking for suitable partners with whom to make a nettle scarf and blanket and get the products for sale. Kuoppamäki-Luomansuu’s wish is to make the Scandinavian region known, and with the support of the ELY Center, she intends to visit trade fairs in Denmark and Sweden to showcase the products. There is a customer in the UK who mainly orders yarns, although she has not marketed there at all. – It would also be nice to see someone dressed in such an ethical and ecological creation in Finnish Independence party, Kuoppamäki-Luomansuu says.
Nettles in textiles
Text: Annika Söderholm-Emas Pictures: Knokkon Textiles Company
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