Urtica cannabina

Urtica cannabina (hemp nettle) is a perennial plant native to Central Asia, Siberia, Mongolia, and northern China, and was also traditionally cultivated in Russia, where it was known as “Swedish hemp.” It produces a bast fibre comparable in properties to hemp or flax—strong, sufficiently long, and highly resistant to wear. The use of Urtica cannabina as a textile material has a long history, especially in Siberia, Russia, and Mongolia, where its fibres were used for ropes, cords, fabrics, underwear, and household textiles. Processing follows traditional methods: mature plants are harvested, then retted (soaked or dew-retted) to loosen the plant tissues, followed by mechanical breaking and combing to separate the bast fibres, which are then spun and woven into textiles. In the textile industry, hemp nettle was particularly valuable in regions where high-quality flax or hemp was not readily available. Due to its durability, sustainability, and regenerative potential, it is now regaining attention in ecological products, technical and artistic textiles, and is being researched as a natural alternative to synthetic fibres.