Urtica Laportea

Laportea, often referred to as “woody nettle” or Urtica Laportea, belongs to the family Urticaceae and provides a natural bast fibre similar to that of common nettle. These plants grow in tropical and subtropical regions, with well-known species (e.g. Laportea aestuans) traditionally used in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The textile use of Laportea dates back to ancient times, when indigenous communities valued its fibres for making ropes, cords, nets, fabrics, and technical textiles. Processing begins with harvesting mature stems at full growth, followed by drying, retting (soaking), mechanical breaking, and combing to separate the long bast fibres from the woody core. The fibres are then spun into yarn and woven into textiles ranging from coarse, durable materials to finer fabrics, depending on local tradition and intended use. In the textile industry, Laportea is valued for its strength, durability, and renewable natural origin. Modern research focuses on innovative applications such as eco-friendly textiles, industrial composites, technical fabrics, handwoven materials, and unconventional packaging materials. Its main advantage lies in producing highly durable textile products with a lower environmental impact than many synthetic fibres and even some conventional plant-based fibres.