British Council Logo UK Films Database
Project Detail

The Nettle Dress

Synopsis

Textile artist Allan Brown spends seven years making a dress by hand, just from the fibre of locally foraged stinging nettles. This is ‘hedgerow couture’, the greenest of slow fashion, and it is also Allan's medicine. It’s how he survives the death of his wife that left him and their children bereft, and how he finds a beautiful way to honour her.
The challenge of making zero carbon clothing sourced within a few miles of his home means re-learning ancient crafts and recalls the fairy tale 'Wild Swans'.
THE NETTLE DRESS follows Allan’s whole journey through all the seasons and years. Foraging, spinning, weaving, cutting and sewing the cloth. Finally the healing vision of the dress back in the woods where the nettles were picked, worn by one of his daughters. 'Grasping the Nettle' is at the heart of the film. Making a dress this way becomes devotional, with every thread representing hours of mindful loving craft. Over seven years Allan is transformed by the process just as the nettles are. Both the film and dress, a hand-spun labour of love in the truest sense, THE NETTLE DRESS is a modern-day fairytale and hymn to the healing power of nature and slow craft.
Visit Film Website

Details

Year
2023
Type of project
Features
Running time
68 min
Director
Dylan Howitt
Producer
Dylan Howitt
Co-Producer
Vicki Lesley
Editor
Dylan Howitt
Director of Photography
Dylan Howitt
Composer
Alex Munslow, Liz Pearson

Categories

Documentary

Production Status

Post-production

Production Company

Softly Films Limited

Europa House
Goldstone Villas
Hove
BN3 3RQ.

Page updates

This page was last updated on 12th May 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.

Suggest amendments

See also

You may also be interested in other relevant projects in the database.

Over a background image of Edinburgh Castle the words Roseburn, path, tram and people are displayed Roseburn - Path | Tram | People

Director: Lee Arthur Patterson

Year: 2026

Edinburgh has a developed network of greenways. One key 60 year old route, The Roseburn Path, is under threat of being significantly transformed into a Tramway. The documentary explores the history, development, social and wellbeing benefits for residents of the path and contrasts the competing needs of development and connectivity.

Climate / Environment Disabilities History Scottish
The CN Tower viewed from a hotel window Two Pids

Director: John Smith

Year: 2026

After the world premiere of his film Being John Smith at the Toronto International Film Festival, an unexpected encounter in a hotel elevator leads the filmmaker to question the nature of reality.

Biography Experimental
Three women look at a map on a table of travel-themed objects. Travel Reminiscence

Director: Barney Gibbons

Year: 2026

A dementia group explores memories of travel through creativity, revealing how past experiences can enrich the present.

Adventure Disabilities Drama