HEMP : Sustainable Fashion's Next Big Thing
It's difficult not to notice the current hemp craze. Pick up any lifestyle magazine, walk into a drugstore, speak with a health-food store salesperson, or even talk to the person next to you in yoga class—you'll learn about its wonderful powers at some time. Cannabidiol, or CBD, oil extracted from hemp has near-unbelievable claims: it's an anti-inflammatory, it cures cancer, it improves arthritis, depression, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, sleeplessness, and it prevents diabetes.
In recent years, the fashion sector has become increasingly harmful to the environment, accounting for a large portion of carbon emissions. The industry is thought to be the second-worst polluter after oil.
The world needs to find strategies to combat every type of pollution that contributes to climate change. The hemp plant is developing as a more sustainable option as the fashion industry strives toward sustainability.
What is Hemp?
Hemp, also known as industrial hemp, is a species of Cannabis Sativa with less THC content. It is cheekily referred to as the “sober cousin” of marijuana. The hemp plant has been used in the textile industry for thousands of years.
This biodegradable fabric is becoming popular with major fashion brands looking to add it to their clothing lines. Because it is an environmentally conscientious material for daily clothes, it has the potential to impact the conversation on sustainable fashion. It is long-lasting, resilient, and has a pleasant feel to it. In many aspects, hemp clothing is comparable to cotton clothing, which has a significantly worse environmental impact.
Hemp is a sustainable substitute for synthetics and cotton
Getting hemp from the field to the factory is a more sustainable and environmentally sound alternative to cotton, not to mention better than how synthetic fibers are produced. Today oil-based synthetics (acrylic, polyester, nylon, spandex) make up 62% of worldwide fiber consumption, with cotton accounting for 26% of the fiber market. Wood-based fibers, such as rayon, modal, and viscose, account for 6%, wool 1%, and other natural fibers, like hemp and linen, the remaining 5%.
Hemp could fashionably stand in for a sizable share of those less-sustainable fibers at a reduced environmental cost. While pure hemp fiber can sometimes produce fabric that doesn’t feel quite so soft to the touch or doesn’t drape well, it can be mixed with other fibers to overcome such limitations, which would still help the industry’s sustainability posture.
Hemp clothing will undoubtedly be a game-changer in the fashion business, for a variety of reasons:
Eco friendly
The Hemp plant is environmentally friendly and does more in developing the climate as opposed to damaging it. It uses very little water compared to cotton. It also does not require pesticides or fertilizers to grow. In the same way, hemp helps restore and detoxify soil as opposed to cotton, which robs the soil of nutrients.
Soft and comfortable
Hemp fabric is comfortable and naturally soft on the skin. The material ages beautifully and gets comfortable with time, unlike other clothing fibers. The more you wash hemp clothing, the softer it becomes while retaining its strength and durability. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about your clothes getting ripped after a few runs in the dryer. They’ll only get gentler and softer as you wear them.
Good for the soil
Unlike cotton, hemp helps enrich the soil while retaining its fertility and preventing erosion. The plant is deep-rooted, thus enabling aeration and allowing constant improvement of soil structure. Hemp is also a durable rotation crop meaning it can be grown on the same soil a couple of times, further increasing its sustainability.
Contains Antimicrobial properties
Hemp textile is naturally antimicrobial and anti-bacterial, which helps fight the growth and spread of bacteria. These properties also mean that the fabric is mold and mildew resistant, meaning your clothes maintain a fresh smell for a longer time.
Breathable and insulating
Not many natural materials will provide both cool and insulating properties during all seasons, like hemp clothing. Its fabrics are cool during summer, allowing your skin to breathe, but at the same time, it keeps you warm during the winter period. The porous fabric allows breathability making hemp a favorite choice for light clothing items such as t-shirts and pants. Its lightweight nature makes it ideal for flexibility and comfort.
Easy to grow
Hemp is relatively easy to grow and maintain, making it a great source of fabric. The plant grows rapidly and is said to grow twice as fast as cotton.
It’s a Wrap
I expect we will see more hemp fashion entering the mainstream and none too soon. Hemp may be one way the fashion industry can save the world and itself.
