Hemp is truly one of the world’s most useful plants. Up until the industrial revolution, when corporate and political interests pushed for the banning of hemp, it was a commonly cultivated crop utilized for everything from food to fabric.
These days, hemp and hemp clothing is making a big comeback and it’s a sustainable, eco-friendly fabric you’ll find in our collections. No longer demonized for the mind-altering qualities of its cousin, marijuana, states, provinces, and countries around the world are re-legalizing hemp for cultivation.
Featured: Women’s Hemp Button Front Shirt
Here are some benefits hemp has for both the environment and your wardrobe.
1. Hemp has a smaller water footprint
Compared to cotton, hemp uses drastically less water. 1,400 gallons of water is required for every pound of conventional cotton produced. (Don’t worry, you’ll only find 100% organic cotton grown with sustainable practices in our clothing.) There are parts of the world where freshwater is being diverted from local communities to produce cotton to make our textiles. Hemp, on the other hand, requires only about half that, at about 700 gallons per pound of fibre.
2. Hemp requires less land
Hemp grows like a weed. And if you’ve ever seen a fully developed field of hemp in person, it’s an enormous plant. Per acre, hemp produces up to 250% more fibre than cotton. That frees up more land to perhaps plant trees or cultivate a more diverse array of crops. Plus, hemp easily grows in most types of soil and can restore vital nutrients back to the earth.
Featured: Women’s Hemp Tiered Cami Dress
3. Hemp doesn’t require pesticides
Cotton is more fragile and susceptible to pests than hemp, which is why about a quarter of the pesticides sprayed each year are sprayed onto conventional cotton crops. Those pesticides aren’t always completely removed before being spun into textiles, meaning that your skin can actually absorb those chemicals.
Hemp, on the other hand, typically requires no pesticides to grow. It also doesn’t require much in the way of fertilizer, which is usually chemical-based. The plant is a real self-sustainer, capable of growing in some of the harshest conditions.
4. Hemp clothing is better for performance wear
At tentree, we value the outdoors, and oftentimes, spending time in nature means we get hot and sweaty. Hemp is a breathable fabric, meaning that it doesn’t hold moisture. It also stymies the growth of mould and mildew, helping to keep your clothes odourless. And as an added bonus, hemp’s tightly woven fibres can actually protect you from UV rays. Keeping your skin protected on those super sunny days.
Featured: Men’s Joshua Shortsleeve Shirt and Joshua Hemp Short
5. Hemp feels better and lasts longer
Making sure that our sources of clothing are ethical and environmentally friendly is important to us, but we also take into consideration the quality of the clothing. What we found is that hemp isn’t just better than conventional cotton in almost every way environmentally; it also feels better. Like cotton, hemp will break in over time and become softer, but unlike cotton, hemp holds together considerably longer.
6. Hemp looks better
When cotton is spun into fabric, it comes out a creamy, sometimes called a ‘natural’ colour. From that point, dyes are added to the fabric to give it the desired colour. Hemp clothing, on the other hand, can actually be spun into a number of colours without the use of dye. It can be made to look white, black, brown, gray, or green. This allows for a more natural, earthy look.
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Fabric Focus: Organic Cotton French Terry
By planting ten trees for every item you purchase, it’s our mission to plant 1 billion trees by 2030. Head to our website to learn more and begin your planting journey with 10% off.
