Uttarakhand GI Handloom Products

Bichhu Buti (Nettle) Fabrics

Uttarakhand Bichhu Buti (Nettle Fibre): Nettle fibre is classified under Best Fibre. Girardinia comprises distributed in mountain areas of Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand Bichhu Buti (Girardinia Diversifolia) are abundantly available from Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. It is a wild best fibre and grown at a particular temperature and altitude of 1200 to 3500 metres. This best fibre is of good quality: long, strong, smooth and lustrous. The bundle tenacity of nettle fibre is approx. 17gms/tex. The fineness observed is approximately 1.8 tex.(by gravimetric method). Through Air flow method, fineness value shows 0.6 tex only. All properties are dependent on the extent of Degumming / reting process which is not optimized for nettle fibre. Products from Bichhu Buti Fibre: The best fibre is used in Uttarakhand for making sewing thread, twine and rope In Uttarakhand the best fibre is traditionally made into cordage for strings, ropes and fishing nets, and woven into cloth for bags, sacks, jackets, porters’ headbands and mats, vests, shawls and a range of other articles aimed at tourist and export markets.