Natural Fibres

FLAX or LINEN (Linum usitatissimum)

Flax, plant of the family Linaceae, cultivated both for its fibre, from which linen yarn and fabric are made, and for its nutritious seeds, called flaxseeds or linseeds. Linen is valued for its strength, lustre, durability and moisture absorbency. It is stronger than cotton, dries more quickly, and is more slowly affected by exposure to sunlight, because linen absorbs and releases moisture quickly and is a good conductor of heat, linen garments have a cooling effect on the wearer.*

HEMP (Cannabis Sativa)

Hemp, plant of the family Cannabaceae,cultivated for it’s fibre or it’s edible seeds. The fibre, longer and less flexible than flax, is usually yellowish, greenish, or a dark brown or grey and, because it is not easily bleached to sufficiently light shades, is rarely dyed. It is strong and durable.*

NETTLE (Urtica dioica)

Nettle, plant of the family Urticaceae, is a weedy perennial plant best known for it’s stinging leaves. The plant produces a much coarser fibre than Hemp or Flax but offers durability and tactile nature especially if woven in as raw threads.* Nettle fibres have been recorded to be used within the textile Industry as far back as 3000 years ago during the Bronze Age in Denmark.**

WOOL

Wool, animal fibre, has an excellent affinity for natural dyeing. Highly absorbent, retaining as much as 16 to 18 percent of its weight in moisture, wool becomes warmer to the wearer as it absorbs moisture from the air, thus adjusting its moisture content and, consequently, its weight, in response to atmospheric conditions. Because moisture absorption and release are gradual, wool is slow to feel damp and does not chill the wearer by too-rapid drying. It is enjoying to work with and offers rich and varied colour palettes.*

*this information was sourced from: https://www.britannica.com **this information was sourced from: Bergfjord, C. "Nettle as a distinct Bronze-Age textile plant". nature.com. Scientific Reports. Retrieved 14 September 2019.