Hemp has a very long history. It is a fiber, and it has been used for various cultivation for over a thousand years across the world. Rumor has it the word canvas has been derived from the word cannabis. Hemp is often used for industrial purposes and is one of the fastest-growing plants. Researchers say this plant is also one of the first to be spun into fiber 50,000 years ago. Hemp can also be used for several commercial purposes, like in hemp clothing, paper, clothing, biodegradable material, biofuel, animal feed, and much more.
Hemp is a bast fiber, meaning that this plant’s fibers are derived from the stems and made into products like flax, jute, and stinging nettle. Bast fiber is a fibrous material from a plant, especially the inner bark of a tree.
A much more interesting fact is that hemp clothing, made from the hemp plant, helps you stay warm in winter and cool in summer and even protects you from the sun’s UV rays. Therefore, it has various natural advantages.
Hemp is often very similar to linen. It can also be blended with other natural materials to create a durable fabric. 100% Hemp clothing is odor resistant and anti-microbial. Together, these have enabled multiple companies to consider hemp clothing lineups.
But why do researchers always have a question regarding this little ferny-type green leaf? Is it very different from other natural fibers?
It is very different from other natural fibers available in the market. The plant produces natural fibers and can be easily blended, but it also has some healing properties. The seed of this tiny plant has all the properties.
For example, it helps with neurological problems, protects the brain, reduces inflammation in the skin, boosts heart health, and even cures rheumatoid arthritis.
No pesticides are needed, as it is a very densely growing plant altogether. And this tiny plant is also helpful to mother nature; it returns 60 to 70% of the nutrients it takes from the soil. Hemp requires very little water and is gentle on the Earth’s surface. Now, if you compare Hemp with Cotton, results show that hemp requires a minimal amount of land to cultivate, and even it produces double the fiber yield per hectare than cotton.
Sustainable hemp clothing is made from long strands of plant fiber, basically the stalk. Now, these fibers need to be separated from the plant, and for that procedure named retting is being used. After retting, these fibers are spun together to form a continuous thread and woven into high-quality fabrics.
But nowadays, some companies are using chemicals for clothes made from hemp, making it harsh for the environment and its surroundings. Secondly, the process is much cheaper and faster as well. Even after weaving, the impact of the fabric doesn’t just stop once.
Hence it is proved that Hemp is a sustainable crop to grow, but we still need to be sure that turning a green plant into hemp clothing should have a low impact on our planet earth. Responsibility is much more for the producers because they need to care for the environment, workers, consumers, and profitability.
However, despite so many benefits, the plant is still banned in various countries across the planet. Till now, people have gotten confused between hemp and the cannabis tree. The cannabis tree is also from the same hemp family but has a few more properties, often making people high. So, that stigma of getting high is also still associated with hemp.
While hemp-based oils are getting recognized in various parts of the world, even a hemp-based spray has been approved to treat multiple sclerosis. The world is slowly opening up to hemp-based products, including sustainable hemp clothing. So, just like any other hemp-based product, hemp clothing might be the next big thing in a few years.
