About 60 households in the gewog today cultivate chirata. They were encouraged to cultivate the plant following demand from the popular French luxury fashion house Chanel. The company uses it as one of the ingredients in a face oil known for its rejuvenating properties.
The tradition of the production of yarns from nettle plants is still kept alive by the people of Lauri Gewog of Bhutan. Moreover, they are also getting a good income out of it, Bhutan Live reported.