Grass

Grass is a natural, rapidly renewable material whose use in the textile sector has a long, millennia-old tradition. Archaeological and ethnographic findings show that prehistoric humans wove dried grass and plant stems into mats, nets, blankets, baskets, and simple garments, especially in regions where other raw materials were scarce. In ancient times, grass and cereal stalks were used to produce basic fabrics or fillings intended for protection against weather conditions; in many Asian and African cultures, weaving and plaiting grass materials is still a living tradition today. Processing grass into textile materials begins with harvesting suitable species such as reeds, rushes, palm grasses, or dried cereal stems. This is followed by drying, sometimes soaking to increase flexibility, and then hand or simple mechanical spinning, weaving, or braiding. The material is lightweight, breathable, and holds its shape well, with especially strong performance in more rigid plant species. In the textile industry, grass is mainly used for woven and braided mats, rugs, bags, decorative items, and some traditional headwear such as straw hats. Its ecological renewability and biodegradability make grass an increasingly attractive raw material in modern sustainable textiles and accessories.