The fashion industry is one of the industrial sectors with the greatest environmental impact. In fact, in Europe, pollution from textile consumption ranks fourth, after food, housing and mobility [1].

This negative impact is due to the fact that most textiles come from the use of synthetic materials, which can be very harmful to the environment if not recycled properly. And unfortunately, most of them are not [1]. Every year, on average, each European disposes of 11 kg of clothing, but unfortunately not always in the correct way.

The doubling of textile production between the years 2000 and 2015 inevitably led to a considerable exploitation of natural resources as well, such as water consumption, energy consumption and a number of chemicals used throughout the production chain. To learn more about this topic, you can read our article on Greenwashing.

For all these reasons, the concept of more conscious and ecologically sustainable fashion, also known as slow fashion, has become paramount in recent years. There are many ways to make the textile industry more environmentally friendly and to reduce the environmental impact of our wardrobe. Not only do we have to be careful about the pollution of manufacturing companies or the reuse of vintage garments, but we also need to choose fabrics and materials that do not have a major impact on the environment. This is why hemp fabric is a great tool to use, especially when it comes to our clothing.

Hemp is a natural fibre that grows without the need for pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals, uses very little water and does not deplete the soil. It can be recycled many times without losing its quality and therefore does not harm the environment like synthetic fabrics.

In this article, we will explore the benefits of using hemp fabrics and see which companies offer hemp clothing.

10 reasons to choose hemp clothes

Hemp is an extremely versatile and multifaceted fabric, and it is for this and many other reasons, which we will present below, that it is the ideal candidate for the production of garments of all kinds, from underwear to nightshirts.

The reasons for this choice are immense, but here is a list of ten main reasons why you should choose and buy clothes made from hemp:

1. Ecological cultivation

‍one of the biggest reasons why hemp has been an excellent choice for the fashion industry in recent years is certainly its ability to be grown in an environmentally friendly way. In fact, the cultivation of hemp requires minimal water and soil unlike other natural fibres such as cotton. Furthermore, the Cannabis Sativa plant does not need pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers, and is therefore grown completely naturally, eliminating the possibility of chemicals in the cultivation process. For this reason, choosing hemp clothing means making a choice not only of aesthetic value, but also ecological.

2. Fabric strength

Hemp is an extremely durable fabric due to the thickness and weave of the natural fibres of Cannabis Sativa and its fabric in general. As a result, garments made of hemp are more likely to resist the passage of time and wear and tear. In fact, it has been shown that they are more likely to withstand various uses with the passage of time or numerous washing and laundering. In fact, hemp becomes softer and softer with the passage of time and increased use, so they also acquire more value after a few years . In fact, another good alternative to hemp is not to wash it, but to let it air at night.

 3. It is biodegradable

‍Hemp is a completely natural type of fibre. For this reason, it can be recycled in so many ways: in fact, it can be reused to make various new products, or simply processed in such a way that it can be disposed of without any problem for our environment. An even more important feature to remember about hemp: being a natural fibre, if it has not previously been processed with certain chemical processes such as dyeing, it is 100% biodegradable! This phenomenon proves that hemp is extremely friendly towards the environment. In fact, in the past, many hemp fabrics were recycled several times before being finally disposed of.

4. Breathable against odours

Hemp is reputed to be a type of fabric and natural fibre that absorbs and releases sweat and all kinds of odours very easily. For this reason, it is an extremely breathable fabric and ideal for underwear and light clothing, ideal for sports and warmer seasons [2] . We talked about this in the article on sportswear.

5. Mould and bacteria resistant

Fabrics that are produced from cannabis sativa, like hemp itself, possess natural pesticidal properties, which allows small fungi, moulds, termites and other harmful agents to be removed from our clothes. We can clearly see how this particular element makes hemp clothing very safe and delicate, which can therefore also be worn by people with sensitive skin.

6. Healthy and hygienic

Hemp fabric also has extremely hygienic properties. In fact, hemp has strong antimicrobial and anti-pathogenic properties, which makes it ideal for the production of more delicate clothing or garments, such as baby clothes or undergarments, in close contact with the most delicate parts of the skin. Especially on the baby side, an extremely good product is the one produced and developed by Billie Wonder, i.e. hemp washable nappies made of 50% hemp and 50% organic cotton.

7. Protects from the sun

Another incredible characteristic of hemp is that it is important enough to make this fabric the ideal friend of people during the hottest summer periods. In fact, one of the many properties of hemp is that it not only lets in air, water and odours, but also has UV filtering power. For this reason, it can protect our skin against the sun's strongest rays.

8. It has a lot of versatility

‍Hemp has proven over the years to be a very light and versatile type of natural fibre. In fact, wearing clothes made of textile hemp offers lightness and comfort and lasts for many years.

9. Does not harm the skin

‍The list of hemp's magical properties and characteristics is getting longer and longer. All these positives allow you to be on the safe side. In fact, clothes made from hemp fabric are very healthy and protect your skin from any threat or bacteria.

10. Living colours for longer

In most cases, hemp clothes are produced in a completely natural way, at every stage of production. This also includes the colouring, as hemp can take on different shades and colours, simply by the process of spinning cannabis sativa. As a result, the colours of the fabric will not only be completely natural, but also very much alive for longer [3].

The production of hemp clothes brings numerous benefits to all participants in the value chain: every actor in the fashion and slow fashion machine: from our environment to the producer to us consumers. Thanks to this simple but effective fabric, we can obtain durable and quality clothes that can protect us from the inconveniences of the outdoors and much more. Precisely for this reason, it is necessary to try hemp clothes and discover how they are the best fashion solution in recent years.

Slow fashion companies specialising in hemp fabric

Because of fast fashion and its blinding ways of advertising new products and lines, we find it very difficult to find good brands that can give us great quality and aesthetically pleasing hemp clothes at a good price. Actually, finding hemp clothes is much easier than you think! In fact, both in Italy and abroad, we can find many respectable and fashionable brands offering a very wide range of choice.

Once you get into the world of slow fashion and its directions, you will be able to find the names of these brands in no time at all and you will find that it is much easier than expected. Here is a small list of the most famous companies, both Italian and foreign.

Opera Fields

The Opera Campi brand, completely signed Made in Italy, is a great discovery in the world of slow fashion and, in particular, the world of hemp fashion. This small brand was born recently, in January 2017 among the hills and plains in the province of Parma, where the tradition of hemp was established years ago. A small collective of friends decided to study the history of hemp in the territory, through the stories of families and territorial tradition, to create a new ideal. The brand uses the age-old knowledge of small farmers and artisans to create a brand and clothing line entirely based on hemp, so as to contribute to the world of fashion, but at the same time help the environment and the land, from which they have learnt so much.

HempAge

HempAgeis a brand of German origin, which was founded in 1999, but nowadays is very successful and ships to numerous countries, including Italy. The brand, as its name announces, sees itself as an excellent alternative to fast fashion shops, seeking to promote the production of hemp clothes in everyday life. HempAge is extensively stocked, offering numerous options between men's and women's clothing, highly elegant, but with a minimalist and neat style. Furthermore, the brand is a member of some important associations, such as FWF (Fair Wear Foundation) and EIHA (European Industrial Hemp Association), which promote initiatives for the diffusion of slow fashion and hemp as a clothing fabric[3].

Thought

Thought is a clothing brand that looks very youthful and in step with current fashions, but with its own very innovative twist. Started in 1995, the Australian brand Thought was founded with the aim of being able to create youthful, energetic and vital clothing while respecting the resources of our planet. The brand uses materials, such as hemp of course, that are natural and ethically conscious for the production of their clothing lines, as well as manufacturing and shipping processes that are as in line with slow fashion and love for our environment as possible.

LuciDuci

LuciDuci is a small regional reality, born in the heart of Sicily, from the dream of a young entrepreneur to get involved and create something of her own, personal, but at the same time something that could help the world. Thus, a brand was born that fully reflects the dictates of slow fashion, using materials such as hemp and production processes that can counter the idea of fashion and clothing that are harmful to nature. With its very 'sweet', delicate and soft clothing lines, LuciDuci is an excellent alternative for the search for ethically correct clothing.

On a global level, the following slow fashion companies are also definitely worth considering:

HempMate

HempMate is a company that produces hemp clothing for men, women and children. Their mission is to provide hemp clothing that helps people feel comfortable while improving their lifestyle. They are dedicated to creating comfortable yet stylish products that can help you stand out from other consumers. They use state-of-the-art technology to create soft, breathable, durable and long-lasting hemp garments.

OZKLYN Apparel

OZKLYN Apparel is an Australian company that creates hemp clothing for men, women, boys, girls and young children. They focus on producing fashionable designs for the modern customer that include environmentally friendly materials. By providing quality merchandise and first-class customer service, they have become one of the world's top suppliers of hemp clothing.

Hemp& Co.

Hemp & Company was founded in New York City in 2008. Their mission is to continue to change the world through clothing; they do this by promoting healthy lifestyles and environmental awareness while creating socially and economically conscious products.

The world of hemp clothing, as you can well see, is large and varied, full of options to suit every taste and thought. Thanks to the growing awareness in recent years for the protection of the environment and raw materials, the world is getting to know the great power of hemp as a fabric and resource. The future is becoming greener in our eyes, thanks to the use of this natural fibre that helps us obtain classy, but also more durable clothes that are safe for our bodies and our environment.

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References and insights: 

[1] https://ec.europa.eu/environment/strategy/textiles-strategy_it

[2] https://oasidellacanapa.com/vestiti-in-canapa-tessuto-in-canapa/

[3] https://www.naturalogico.it/benefici-abbigliamento-in-canapa/

Photo:

[F1] Ksenia Chernaya, Pexels

[F2] Pexels: Photo by MART PRODUCTION

[F3] Pexels, Lisa Summer

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