London-based studio Turner Duckworth gave us a brief during our third year in the Graphic Design BA. They asked us to take an existing brand and take it into a new market.
As a lover of nature and honey, Rowse was the obvious choice. I’ve always had an interest in sustainable fashion so I wanted to explore a speculative clothing brand based on the brand values of Rowse. They believe in eco-friendly and local farming so I thought of local plants that could be used to create clothing.
As a lover of nature and honey, Rowse was the obvious choice. I’ve always had an interest in sustainable fashion so I wanted to explore a speculative clothing brand based on the brand values of Rowse. They believe in eco-friendly and local farming so I thought of local plants that could be used to create clothing.
Nettle is one the most abundant plants in the UK but is often labelled as a weed and destroyed. In reality it’s an extremely useful plant that has been used for millennia across the world. It is sustainable to grow in the UK - more so than other plant-based clothing fibres like linen and cotton.
The stalks have really strong fibres - I even made paper out of them for some print making I was doing. I thought that with some special process this could be easily turned into a fabric.
But that’s not all nettle has to offer. The leaves are often used in tea for their antioxidant properties. They are a source of fibre, iron, calcium and vitamin A.
The stalks have really strong fibres - I even made paper out of them for some print making I was doing. I thought that with some special process this could be easily turned into a fabric.
But that’s not all nettle has to offer. The leaves are often used in tea for their antioxidant properties. They are a source of fibre, iron, calcium and vitamin A.
emilybtalks@gmail.com
Em Bennett 2026