Spinning a future from nettles
The Himalayan giant nettle, or allo, occurs naturally at altitudes between 1,200 and 3,000 metres, and provides one of the most fascinating and least known yarns from Nepal.

Allo fibres are amongst the longest found in plants, and when treated can be made into cloth ranging from the finest texture to coarse sailcloth. It has been said that up to the nineteenth century, half of the farmers of Bhutan dressed in nettle cloth.

Growing to three metres tall, allo is harvested by cutting the stems so the stumps reshoot for next year’s harvest. The fibre is found in the inner bark, which is removed using the teeth, left to dry for a few weeks before boiling with wood ash, washing to remove impurities, and spinning using traditional hand spindles.

People in the remote hilly areas of Sankhuwasabha district (18 hours by bus and four days on foot from Kathmandu) have made allo ropes, mats, bags, fishing nets and clothing for generations. Weaving allo cloth on a commercial scale first began in 1984 when several women saw the opportunity to extend their traditional skills to their own and the environment’s advantage, and formed the Allo Cloth Production Club. Today they make many products, from home furnishings to clothing, stationery to accessories, and with the assistance of Mahaguthi, a Kathmandu-based Fair Trade Organisation, they have found a niche export market and an alternative income-earning opportunity for their community.