PYRATEX® Element I

PYRATEX® element I is made with nettle that grows wild in the mountain forests of the Himalayas. It is a 100% biodegradable, no waste fiber. Strong and versatile, it does not sting when used in textile and is very suitable for spinning. Furthermore, the processing of the Himalayan Nettle is non-harming towards the ecosystem and at the same time natural and organic.

It has a long tradition in the textile industry and was worn by humans over 2000 years ago. Nettle lost its position in the textile industry when cotton and silk came to the market, but has a long history in traditional medicines, having been used to treat several diseases, such as chest pain, tuberculosis, headache, asthma and many more.

Wild-growing, giant Himalayan stinging nettle is a perfectly sustainable rhizome, with shoots annually reaching over three meters in height. Harvesting the vertical stalks clears out one year’s growth, making room for new leafy and healthy shoots in the next year to better absorb CO2. It also promotes root growth for soil stabilisation in landslide prone mountains.

Himalayan Nettle is also a socially responsible plant. The areas in Nepal where the nettle grows are high poverty areas. The harvesting of the nettle fibre provides workplaces and support local farmers with an additional income.