Nettle kilt makes a smooth impression

A KILT made of nettles sounds like a real Scotsman’s worst nightmare but designers of the first one promise there will be no sting in the tail.

Richard Bell, a production designer at the Galashiels-based Lochcarron of Scotland, said: "Fabric suppliers mentioned nettles to me and I thought it would be a great idea to make a kilt, especially when you have the whole question of ‘what does a Scotsman wear under his kilt?’. After a lot of experimenting, we found a blend that worked well and held the pleat.

"In theory, this kilt is like the ultimate test for a Scotsman, but once it’s made, the fabric is amazingly soft."

When the tip of a hair on a nettle breaks off it exposes a sharp point that penetrates the skin. One of the main ingredients it delivers is formic acid.

The nettles used by Lochcarron have the fine fibres removed. Mr Bell said: "The nettles make an amazing fabric that is white, bright and lends itself to very bright colours."