Doesn’t it sting? That’s the question everyone asks about Inovafil’s new thread, developed from nettles. Rui Martins, the company’s administrator, guarantees that it does not sting, burn or irritates the skin. On the contrary: in addition to being ecological, the yarn is breathable and has antibacterial, anti-static and thermoregulatory properties.
António Gonçalves
The idea is not exactly new, but it might be revolutionary for the textile industry, now that circular economy and sustainability are beginning to dictate the market’s trends. The Nettles, known for easily irritating the skin, were used in garment production in Germany during the Second World War. Faced with an international trade blockade and a cotton shortage, the Germans found an alternative in this wild plant and used it to produce uniforms.
Now, in times of peace, it’s Inovafil that seeks to win the race for sustainability through the use of natural fibers. The company, based in Guimarães, has an exclusive partnership with a German nettles producer, which grows and processes the plants, making it possible to incorporate them into thread production. The product’s great value comes from this high sustainability aptitude when compared to the sector’s traditional solutions. “Nettles are wild plants that appear spontaneously and require almost no water, which makes their production very easy and also very ecological”, explains Rui Martins.
Sustainability has been the core of several NIDYARN’s – Inovafil research and development department – projects. In addition to nettles thread, the company has also developed ecological yarns from organic cotton and hemp. However, “the nettle thread is always the highlight in any presentation”, confesses the company’s administrator, who has presented the product at customer visits and international fairs. “The reactions are very good. Being innovative creates a lot of interest and curiosity and has raised several orders.”
With less than a year in development, the thread is already being produced and able to be put on the market. The first reactions have arisen from the clothing sector, although Inovafil believes that the product will succeed in any of the textile industry’s branches. “The fashion industry is always much more open to new experiences, but we believe that this product will suit any of the industry’s areas. Thanks to the fact that it is produced from the nettle’s stalk, the thread becomes similar to flax and can be used in any textile production”, says Rui Martins.
In addition to arousing the textile sector’s curiosity, the nettle thread’s innovative spirit earned Inovafil an iTechStyle prize, awarded by CITEVE. At an international level, a mesh produced by Vilartex using this new thread was distinguished at Munich Fabric Start with the Hightex Award for innovative products.
Nettle Thread - Developed by NIDYARN, Inovafil ‘s R & D department for high performance functional thread, in partnership with the Universidade do Minho
What is it? A thread made with Nettle Fiber What is it for? To provide a sustainable alternative to traditional thread Project Status? Industrial production