Cotton is a common raw material for fabrics, textiles and clothes. Cotton fibers are made from cotton seeds. The disadvantages of cotton are linked to growing it. Cotton farming takes up a lot of valuable water and requires the use of many environmentally harmful pesticides. Flax stalks are used to make linen cloth. 


Cotton and flax are used as raw material for fabrics, textiles and clothes.

Hemp is another common fiber plant. Hemp stalks were used by the Vikings to create ropes, sails, clothes and fishing nets. Hemp can also be used to produce durable, thin paper.

The nettle plant is a relative of hemp. It is considered the oldest fiber plant in the world. Archeological evidence shows that stone age humans already knew how to make fishing nets from nettles. Later in history, it has been widely used as the raw material for ropes and sacks. In the 20th century, nettle was replaced by cotton as the most important fiber plant in the world. Recent evidence has shown that nettle fibers do not grow moldy.


Hemp and nettle can also be used to produce fibrous materials.