Hemp

While hemp remains banned in many countries, it makes an exceptional fiber for the textile sector. As we look for alternative, eco-friendly, natural fabrics, industrial hemp emerges as one of the most sustainable options. However, the industry must navigate complex legislative systems and compete economically with established crops to make hemp a widely accepted alternative.

Hemp is a bast fiber: long strands from the stalks are separated, retted, decorticated, and softened by removing lignin, then spun into thread and woven into fabrics suitable for a range of applications, including high-end fashion. Hemp’s sustainability benefits are particularly noteworthy. Hemp cultivation requires 2.5 times less water than cotton per hectare, and research shows that hemp can meet current garment industry demands using only a third of the land needed for cotton. Additionally, hemp contributes to carbon sequestration and has soil-replenishing properties, returning 60 to 70% of the nutrients it takes from the soil. It can also be grown without pesticides and insecticides, contrasting sharply with cotton, which relies heavily on these chemicals.