Felde Fibres – Elementary textile fibres made from hemp, nettle and linen.
Elementary
textile fibres
Welcome to Felde Fibres. We produce elementary textile fibres from bast fibre plants such as hemp, linen, European stinging nettle and many more.
Elementary fibres are the highest degree of fibre opening in the world of bast fibres. As opposed to seed fibres such as cotton, bast fibres are found in the stem of the plant where they are arranged as a sheath around the wooden core of the stem. In this sheath arrangement the bast fibres are glued together to fibre bundles with nature’s glue. The challenge of producing fine bast fibres for textiles is thus to open the fibre bundles into single, unitary fibres: the elementary fibres.
The coarser fibre bundles, which are most commonly used in textiles, pose difficulties in spinning which results in irregular yarn thicknesses and prohibits finer yarn counts. This substantially limits the range of applications and produces improper fabrics. Elementary fibres on the other hand allow for regular yarns, a soft hand feel and a clean appearance of fabrics.
Felde Fibres has developed a proprietary production method which achieves an exclusively fine quality of elementary fibres from hemp, linen and the European stinging nettle. Our fibres are used in woven and non-woven applications as the core of end-products that meet the highest standards of quality and sustainability. We welcome you to discover more about our unique fibre production below.
Fibre plants, grown
by german farmers
The textile industry is dominated by cotton and synthetic fibres which both have challenges with regards to their environmental impact. Synthetic fibres are problematic since they are based on mineral oil and cause a significant amount of microplastic. Cotton on the other hand needs excessive amounts of fresh water and uses a disproportionately high share of the agrochemicals used globally. Furthermore, its cultivation raises ethical questions in some parts of the world. The large scale cultivation of cotton thus faces challenges.
Bast fibre plants on the other hand are ideal to be grown at a large scale. The European nettle is a permaculture and hemp and linen do not use excessive resources or chemicals.
Especially hemp is predestined to be grown at a large scale since it has many benefits for the soil and uses no pesticides or herbicides while having a very high yield at the same time.
The local sourcing of our hemp paired with our new processing technology which cuts water and energy consumption by min. a factor of 5 results in a textile material which has a dramatically reduced resource consumption and at the same time improves the environment it grows in.
Felde Fibres is proud of offering the probably most sustainable textile fibre in the world that is available at scale which allows our customers to create truly sustainable products as well as to make meaningful steps towards a more sustainable and transparent supply chain.
Proprietary
technology
We achieve our outstanding elementary fibre quality thanks to our proprietary production method.
Felde Fibres has developed a production line consisting of mechanical and wet processes which not only allow for the finest degree of fibre opening but also for the most efficient use of resources and a virtually 100% yield of the textile grade fibres present in the plant material.
With more than a decade of experience Felde Fibres has always had the aim to achieve the highest possible bast fibre quality for textile purposes and gained a deep technical understanding of decortication and degumming. We have developed some production steps ourselves and combined equipment from different suppliers to create a globally unique production plant concept.
We are particularly proud of our steam explosion degumming process, which we have fundamentally improved. With extensive heat recouperation and water recycling technology, we are drastically cutting the consumption of energy, water and utilities.
Our new
production site
Currently, the production of our textile fibres operates out of our small-scale production facility in Groß Helle, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Here, we are already today producing our high-quality fibres on a small scale.
However, in 2022, a new chapter in German textile fibres production was initiated. With a new partner and capital, the NFC Nettle Fibre Company GmbH, which has been in existence since 2011, was renamed Felde Fibres GmbH, and the planning of a large, industrial-scale production facility with newly developed technology and improved quality was set in motion.
Our new facility is currently being built close to Neuruppin, Brandenburg, on an area of nearly 3 hectares and will consist of four buildings with a total floor space of 14.000m2.
In the new facility, our proprietary production technology will be able to annually process 20,000 tons of straw into 5,000 tons of finest quality textile fibres . The first mechanical processing line was taken into operation in Q3 2025.
The location in the Temnitztal valley along the high way A24 provides excellent logistical infrastructure all the while being a characteristically agricultural region.
Sustainability
The textile industry is dominated by cotton and synthetic fibres which both have challenges with regards to their environmental impact. Synthetic fibres are problematic since they are based on mineral oil and cause a significant amount of microplastic. Cotton on the other hand needs excessive amounts of fresh water and uses a disproportionately high share of the agrochemicals used globally. Furthermore, its cultivation raises ethical questions in some parts of the world. The large scale cultivation of cotton therefore faces challenges.
Bast fibre plants on the other hand are ideal to be grown at a large scale. The European nettle is a permaculture and hemp and linen do not use excessive resources or chemicals. Especially hemp is predestined to be grown at a large scale since it has many benefits for the soil and uses no pesticides or herbicides while having a very high yield at the same time.
One of our useful by-products is shives. Shives are the woody part of fibre plants, which we sell to manufacturers of building materials. The raw material delivered consists of approximately 60% shives. Like all plants, these shives extract CO2 from the atmosphere as they grow. This is stored in building materials over the long term.
Our hemp fibres – Natural fibres with a future
Hemp is one of the most sustainable raw materials in the world – and at Felde Fibres, we refine it into textile fibres of the highest quality. The special feature of our hemp fibres: through our extraction of the plant’s elementary fibres, fabrics with an exceptionally soft finish and a clear, elegant appearance can be produced, in a completely natural way.
The cultivation of our winter hemp takes place in Germany, mostly within a 100-kilometre radius of our production site. As a secondary crop, it provides farmers with additional income, improves soil health, requires no pesticides, and binds CO₂. In this way, hemp acts like a natural, holistic treatment for the soil.
In textiles, hemp proves to be a true natural talent: robust, breathable, odour-neutral, UV-resistant, and highly durable. This makes our fibres not only comfortable for everyday use but also a genuine alternative to cotton and synthetic materials.
Our nettle fibres – The renaissance of an elegant natural fibre
The European stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) holds a treasure long forgotten: its fibre. Through the use of innovative technologies, Felde Fibres has rediscovered this fibre and turned it into a high-quality, sustainable raw material for the textile industry.
Our nettle fibres are softer than hemp, as shiny as silk, and highly durable. They are breathable, skin-friendly, and long-lasting – perfect properties for clothing, home textiles, and technical applications.
The plant’s cultivation in Germany is sustainable: the perennial plant itself protects the soil, requires no pesticides, binds CO₂, and strengthens biodiversity by providing a habitat for numerous insects. Short transport routes and regional processing also ensure high-quality fibres with a minimal ecological footprint.
With state-of-the-art processing technology, we are able to extract the fine elementary fibres from nettles for use in uniquely elegant fabrics.
Felde Fibres is bringing the traditional nettle fibre back onto the textile stage – elegant, sustainable, and forward-looking.
Our linen fibres – The “old familiar” reimagined
Linen is a timeless classic in the textile world – treasured for its strength, durability, cool touch and elegant matte sheen. As a bast fibre derived from flax, linen is exceptionally tear-resistant and breathable – ideal for premium apparel, home textiles and nonwovens.
Felde Fibres produces elementary linen fibres from European flax. Through a targeted degumming process, we deliver fibre grades suitable for ring and open-end spinning as well as nonwoven applications – with a clean fibre profile, ensuring uniform yarns and high-quality fabrics.
Sustainability is an integral part of our philosophy: flax requires significantly less water than cotton, little or no pesticides, is fully biodegradable and grows in Europe – with short transport routes. Regional cultivation and production in Germany reduce transport emissions and ensure complete traceability.
In this way, Felde Fibres combines the widespread availability and popularity of linen with state-of-the-art processing technology: high-performance, regionally processed linen fibres for ring, open-end and nonwoven applications – for collections that combine timeless aesthetics, functionality and responsibility.
By-products from Felde Fibres – Versatile and sustainably used
During the processing of our natural fibres, valuable by-products are generated. We make these available as useful, sustainable raw materials. In this way, we contribute to the complete utilisation of the plant – resource-efficient and versatile.
Hurd
Our hurd is characterised by a medium to fine grain and a low fibre content. It is ideal for use in construction, for example, in panels and bricks or for on-site processing. In addition, it is used in gardening and landscaping, as well as for animal bedding.
Short Fibres
During fibre extraction, different fractions of short fibres and fibre–hurd mixtures are produced. These materials are particularly suitable for coarse nonwoven applications or as animal-friendly bedding.
Dust
Fine dust is separated during production, consisting of lignin, organic residues, tiny fibre fragments, and sand. These by-products are suitable, among other uses, as fuel, filler, or for bedding.
Applications
of our fibres
Our elementary fibres made of hemp, linen and nettle are used for a wide range of textile applications.
For spinning we offer our fibres in natural staple length as well as cottonised. At appr. 60mm the natural length is suitable for combed and worsted yarns, especially for blends with wool. These yarns can be used for luxurious knits and men’s suiting.
The mechanically cottonised fibre is appr. 30mm long and thus suitable for ring spinning, OE and air jet yarns. The cottonised fibres can be blended with cotton, Tencel and any other fibre used in the above spinning technologies. This allows for a virtually limitless range of applications such as jersey, sweat fleece, fine knit, denim, outerwear, shirting, dresses, just to name a few.
The content of bast fibres in blended yarns can be varied in order to achieve desired hand-feels, weights, properties and price points.
Our elementary fibres are equally well-suited for non-woven applications such as fleeces for wadding, fillings for bedding products amm. For wadding and bedding products our fibres are also often blended with cotton, wool, Tencel among others.
Do you want to inquire our fibres?
Benefits for your company
Our partner network
Whether you are a brand, fabric manufacturer, or spinning mill, we can support you in manufacturing and procurement.
With a sales team of industry experts, we have contacts in all manufacturing processes on every continent.
Unique certification worldwide
Felde Fibres is the only company worldwide to be GOTS-certified for all three bast fibres mainly found in Europe: hemp, nettle, and linen.
The GOTS standard sets strict criteria regarding organic cultivation, fair working conditions and prohibits the use of toxic and environmentally harmful chemicals.
Examples of use textiles
Jobs
To launch our new location in Temnitzpark near Neuruppin, we will be assembling a team of plant operators. We will advertise the positions through multiple job placement agencies and organize meet-and-greet events. Feel free to check back on this page to stay updated.
LOCATIONS
Felde Fibres GmbH
Temnitzpark Neuruppin
Lindenallee 2
16818 Dabergotz
Felde Fibres GmbH
Dorfstr. 15
17091 Gross Helle/Mölln
COMPANY HEADQUARTERS
Felde Fibres GmbH
Temnitzpark Neuruppin
Lindenallee 2
16818 Dabergotz