Benefits of Hemp Clothing

Hemp is a sustainable textile created with the fibers of a hemp plant.  Historically, manufacturers used hemp crops to create industrial items such as rope and sails. Hemp fibers are incredibly durable and versatile making hemp ideal for textiles, ropes, and building materials.  Hemp has 8x the tensile strength of other natural fibers and offers the perfect option for durable needs and uses.

Hemp is the Strongest Natural Fiber

Hemp fiber is the strongest natural, biodegradable fiber on earth.  One of the most admired qualities of hemp clothing is its durability. Hemp is one of the sturdiest natural textile fibers.  It is 4-8 times stronger than cotton. When wearing hemp clothing, you can be confident that it will last long without tearing or stretching out.

It is tightly woven, very breathable, and surprisingly soft. Hemp cloth is created without toxins or unnatural processes and does not cling to the body.

Hemp is Antimicrobial

Hemp has antimicrobial properties which make it mold and mildew resistant. These properties also prevent the fabric from developing bad odors over time and you can avoid bacteria without the consequences.

Hemp fabric is anti-microbial and allows your clothes to stay clean longer and prevents it from developing odor-causing bacteria.

Unlike garments made from other materials, hemp clothing holds its shape and lasts longer.

Hemp’s antimicrobial properties means:

• Less odor
• Fewer loads of laundry
• Reduced chance of skin infections or yeast infections
• Healthier skin
• Longer lasting clothes
• Feeling all around fresher, for longer
• The antibacterial properties of hemp clothing are especially important for protecting sensitive areas

Hemp is Breathable and Absorbent

Hemp can keep you comfortable regardless of the weather.  Hemp can keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  This is due to hemp’s uniquely-structured cellulose fibers which allow the fabric to have insulating and breathable qualities.

Hemp is impressively water-absorbent and can absorb up to five times its own weight in water.

Hemp is also a material that water quickly evaporates from, which helps keep you even dryer.  As a highly absorbent material, hemp can help keep you dry on hot summer days.  Hemp’s absorbent quality allows it to retain dyes which gives it a vibrant color that doesn’t fade over
The highly porous structure of hemp has even been found to help regulate the humidity inside buildings.

Hemp Clothing Can Be Good for your Skin

Hemp works as a natural filter for UV light. Overexposure to the harmful sun rays can cause skin cancer and other irreversible skin issues.

Hemp fabric offers the best sun protection against sunburn, skin damage, and skin cancer.  Damaging rays can lead to immune system suppression, early aging, and skin cancers. To reduce these risks, wear hemp clothing.

Hemp clothing is also hypoallergenic and suitable for every skin type.

The antioxidant potential of hemp fabrics not only help protect the skin, but act as a source of relief for people with sensitive skin, or have skin diseases.  Hemp clothing does more than just cover your skin; it helps it thrive.

Hemp is Friendly for the Environment

Global warming is taking a toll on our planet.  The fashion industry also plays a part in the carbon footprint, with rapid production and disposal of clothing, increasing the carbon footprint.

When you compare hemp vs cotton, hemp is 8x stronger, making the fiber’s strength among one of the many hemp clothing benefits.  As a consumer, you get more out of your hemp clothing because it can last longer than other materials.  Hemp is also biodegradable.

Hemp is one of the most environmentally-friendly fabrics on the market.  Hemp is naturally pest-resistant and doesn’t require the use of pesticides.  Hemp requires less space and water than cotton.  For example, one acre of hemp can yield an average of 700 pounds of grain.

Hemp plants grow at a faster pace compared to other trees and also help with CO2 absorption which helps to combat climate change.   Hemp absorbs and stores large amounts of CO2, helping to reduce the greenhouse effect.

Hemp grows fast. Hemp harvests are ready in just four months and is faster-growing than cotton, trees, and other natural resources that we use for clothing and other commodities. Not only is this great for production, but regenerating land and soil after each harvest is great for sustainability and environmental health.

Growing Hemp Requires Less Water

Crops that provide us with clothing fabric such as cotton require heavy irrigation, which is depleting our limited freshwater resources. Hemp requires a lot less water to grow as compared to cotton.  Cotton requires four times more water than hemp.

Cotton requires about 5,280 gallons of water just to produce about 2 pounds of fiber, equivalent to one single pair of jeans or a t-shirt.

Since Hemp does not require any pesticides,  it also lowers the risk of pollution of water bodies such as rivers, lakes, streams, etc.

Hemp only requires around 80 gallons of water to produce about 2 pounds of fiber.  In many places, a lot of this water can be sourced from rainwater.

Soil Loves Hemp

Hemp has the ability to absorb toxic materials from the soil.  Hemp can grow easily in most soil types and does not deplete soil nutrients; in fact, it can restore vital nutrients back to the soil.  Farmers can regrow hemp in the same soil as well as plant hemp on a crop rotation process. Hemp provides the soil with adequate fertilization and is naturally pest resistant.

Hemp has phytoremediation properties, which means it can remove toxins from soil and groundwater. Hemp is known to remove heavy metals, radioactive elements, pesticides, herbicides, explosives, and fuels from the soil.

Hemp improves soil health by acting as a cover crop that preserves topsoil and shades out other weeds, bringing diversity to crop rotations.

Hemp also roots deep into the soil, which helps prevents erosion, and loosens the soil so more delicate plants can grow after.  When hemp leaves are shed,  nutrients and nitrogen, are returned to the soil and can help sustain other plants.

Hemp is also easy on soil and returns 60% of the nutrients it takes to grow. Due to this benefit, hemp can be grown on the same soil for 20 years without soil depletion.

Because of hemp’s ability to replenish the soil, it doesn’t need to be frequently rotated, so the same plants can be harvested a few times before replanting takes place.

Hemp Requires Less Land To Grow

The amount of land required to cultivate hemp is almost half the area required to grow cotton. Also, hemp can produce three times more fiber than cotton.

Hemp is a tall and skinny plant, so it doesn’t require a ton of space; because of hemp’s lower land needs, the crop only needs half the territory of cotton to produce the same yields.

Producing more yield from less land is an important component of sustainable agriculture because huge portions of our lands are cleared for farming, and the world’s population is growing.

All Parts of the Hemp Plant can be Used

All hemp parts can be used, which include the roots, stalks, leaves, flowers, and seeds. Hemp is pretty much a zero-waste plant.

There are over 25,000 uses for hemp including food, body care, building materials, paper, fuel, plastic, clothing, and more.

Focusing on minimizing waste is more important than ever, and it’s essential to the survival of our planet and future generations. Hemp promotes sustainability, provide health benefits, and more.

Hemp Can Grow Almost Anywhere

Hemp can grow in a variety of locations, and almost anywhere.  A large majority of the hemp produced in the world today is grown in China, North Korea, France, Chile, Canada, and the United States.

Currently, growing and producing hemp in the United States is far more costly than in China, however, with the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill and continued demand for hemp products, this all has the potential to change for the better.