Large area well-aligned ZnO nanowire arrays have successfully been synthesized on an unconventional substrate: stainless-steel mesh at a low growth temperature of 400 degrees C. The as-grown ZnO nanowires have uniform diameters about 20 rim and a strong UV peak was observed in photoluminescence spectra. The growth method provides a novel way to produce high quality ZnO nanowire arrays, and can be also used to direct the controllable growth of other nanomaterials.