A Deep Dive Into Hemp Fabric: Is it a Sustainable Choice for Clothing?
Hemp has been a misunderstood material for a while! Let’s explore and learn why it’s a popular choice for eco-friendly clothing.
Also, be sure to check out our Hemp Clothing Brand List!
A lot of people hear the word hemp and immediately think of marijuana. While hemp and marijuana are derived from the same plant in the Cannabaceae family, Cannabis sativa, there are two key differences between them.
The level of tetrahydrocannabinol (also known as THC, the substance that produces the “high” when smoking marijuana)
The legality. Hemp is a cannabis plant with less than 0.3% THC content that is legally grown and can produce products such as paper, plastic, rope, and construction materials. It is also used to produce hemp clothing, which has been making a much-needed comeback.
It’s important to understand and acknowledge the history of this material!
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The History of Hemp
Hemps roots go way back dating as far as 8 000 BC. China has the longest history of the cultivation of hemp, weaving it into clothing and even using it to print paper.
From China, hemp spread across the world and was used not only for clothing but also for ships’ sails and ropes.
It’s reported by 1915, 8,400 acreages of hemp grew in the U.S.: 6,500 acres in Kentucky, 2,000 acres cumulatively in Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin and California.
Because of the fiber shortage of WWI, Minnesota, South Dakota, Michigan, Kansas, Iowa and Illinois, increased domestic production of hemp to 41,200 acres in 1917.
The Decline of Hemp in the USA
However, with the rise of cotton, and oil and steel tycoons nudging out hemp as a competing resource, its use started to wane.
Be sure to read our cotton versus hemp guide!
By the following century, hemp’s reputation started to waver as it became associated with marijuana. In 1937 the Marijuana Tax Act was passed, placing a tax on all cannabis sales (including hemp), thus discouraging its production.
Today, with the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp may be legally produced as an agricultural commodity in 46 states as long as its THC content remains below 0.3%. Due to the wide range of uses of hemp, this is great news for eco-friendly fashion.
How is Hemp Turned into Clothing?
Hemp is not a wasteful crop, since practically every part of the hemp plant can be used, from the stalk to the seeds to the leaves. Seeds are used for their oil for paints, adhesives, and plastics, with the leaves used to make juice.
The inner, woody layer of the stalk can be used for paper and construction materials, while the outer bast fiber is used to make rope or yarn.
That’s how the process of making the fabric begins: separating the inner and outer stalks. This is known as retting.
The outer bast fibers are then spun together to make yarn that can be woven into fabric. Sometimes hemp is even blended with organic cotton to create an organic cotton blend.
Next is the dyeing process followed by stitching the fiber into shirts, pants, dresses, jackets, and even shoes.
For centuries, hemp fabric was used for clothing. Now, with more mindful consumers looking for sustainable, eco-friendly fashion alternatives, hemp clothing is making a comeback.
Is Hemp Fabric a Sustainable Fashion Choice?
With the heavy footprint fashion leaves on our planet, there’s an urgent need to make our closets greener, which means brands and labels are looking towards sustainable practices and fibers.
That’s where hemp clothing comes in. As a plant-based, sustainable fabric, it’s a great alternative not only for vegans but for eco-conscious consumers as well.
Hemp can be grown almost anywhere, doesn’t need a lot of water, does not deplete the soil of nutrients, and can be sown several times a year.
Its long roots help prevent soil erosion and since it acts as a natural repellent, doesn’t require the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
It’s also biodegradable and acts as a carbon sink, a natural system that sucks up and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
If you’re ready to shop for hemp clothing consider checking out these amazing brands!
MEET THE AUTHOR
Claudia Hauter is a South African writer, copy editor, and content creator with degrees in Drama and Anthropology. She works in television managing web content. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s walking her dog, finding small businesses and markets to support, or attracting butterflies and bees with her vegetable garden. Learn from Claudia on Twitter or Instagram.