A set of underwear made from stinging nettles has been designed by a university student as part of a new research project.
It is hoped the "nettle knickers" is the first step towards a commercial application for the plants.
Leicester's De Montfort University's "Sting" project is researching potential for nettle fibre as a crop and market.
The research is funded by Defra; and the Central Science Laboratory, in York, is also involved in the project.
Textile design student Alex Dear, 23, from Cambridge, wrote a dissertation on nettle fibre as part of a three-year textile design and production degree.
She has been modelling the camisole and knickers, which she designed herself.
She said: "I investigated and tested the fibres and had the yarn made up.
"Just for fun I made the lingerie, which I called Nettle Knickers."
Nettle yarn was used to make rucksacks for soldiers in the First World War.
Ms Dear said: "It's not terribly comfortable when it's next to your skin, so anything you made from it would probably have to be lined.
"It is a slightly hairy fibre."
Ray Harwood, Professor of Textile Engineering at De Montfort University, said nettles had great potential.
"I am sure it would find a place in corporate clothing, workwear and the like."