Why Hemp Fabrics?

The physical advantages of hemp fiber are its length, strength, durability, elasticity, and ability to withstand high temperatures without degeneration.

Hemp rope has long been praised for its ability to withstand rot, mildew, and insects. It is strong, very elastic,keeps its strength and gets softer as it ages. 70%-90% of all rope, twine,and cordage were made from hemp until 1937 for this very reason.

Hemp canvas is resistant to ultraviolet light damage, heat and mildew, andrepels insects. The word "canvas" actually derives from the word "cannabis".

Hemp's long bast fiber can be spun into threads, yarn for rope, twine, cordage, heavy canvas, or knit, or woven into a variety of fine linen-like quality fabrics.

Mildew : Hemp's historical dominance of the shipping industry (sails, rope, rigging) because it was mildew-, rot-, and light-resistant is evidence enough.

Elasticity : Historical and modern research indicates that hemp is very elastic, but not as elastic as flax. No specific studies were found.

UV (UltraViolet): Tilley has come out with a new hemp hat.The Tilley hemp fabric has been certified with a UPF 50+, the maximum UV protection ratinggiven.(www.tilley.com)

Durability & Strength:  Fabric strength and durability arenot only a result of the fiber, but also of the success of the weave.

Fireproof Properties:California Fire Standard for 100% Chinese and European Hemp Fabrics. Results: All Fabrics met the fire standard.

Antimicrobial Properties: (This is important in fabric assessment, but it also ranges into hair and skin care, as well as in treatment of and prevention of health problems)

Now that we know that hemp textiles are industry tested for strength, durability, UV protection, mildew and rot resistance, fire resistance, elasticity, and we know that hemp can be grown without herbicides and pesticides nor fungicides or fertilizer (if crop rotation is utilized to optimize the nitrogen in the soil), we need to see how hemp stands up to its competition.

The information we've found on hemp vs. other textiles is varied. Further research needs to be done comparing hemp to other fabrics. However all sources we've come across tell us that cotton uses about 50% of the world's toxic crop chemicals, and that hemp is stronger, lasts longer, is more absorbent, is warmer, breathes better, resists microbes better,and that hemp requires only a third as much water as cotton to grow and only a tiny fraction of the fertilizer, pesticide and herbicide that cotton does.