Candiani helps Pangaia harness wild Himalayan nettle
Materials science company Pangaia has joined forces with Italian denim mill Candiani and Himalayan wild nettle farmers (via US-headquartered company Himalayan Wild Fibers) to establish a new selvedge denim capsule called PANettle.
The choice of wild Himalayan nettle, combined with organic cotton, was motivated by the desire to reduce industry dependence on conventional cotton, the brand said. Pangaia has also finished each garment with its odour-reducing Pprmint oil treatment.
President of Candiani, Alberto Candiani, revealed to Forbes that his company had “started talking about” Himalayan nettle as a potential denim ingredient several years ago, but the timing to develop nettle-blended denim with Pangaia was “perfect”.
Working alongside a local spinner, the denim manufacturer created a 50% nettle fibre and 50% cotton yarn for the denim weft and 100% cotton for the warp, Mr Candiani explained. Due to nettle’s particular properties, it was necessary to weave the denim on shuttle looms.
“The fabrics are beautiful,” Mr Candiani told the US-based business publication. “When you put hemp with cotton, the fabric becomes much nicer [than conventional denim blends], but with Himalayan nettle, it is even more beautiful.”
He added that Candiani has found the nettle fibres to have elongation properties of 12-14%, compared to cotton’s 8-9%, making the denim more comfortable than a 100% cotton, cotton-hemp or cotton-linen blend.
For more from Alberto Candiani, read Inside Denim’s recent Dialogue account with the denim specialist here.
Image: Himalayan Wild Fibers.
