After a long period of prohibition, which was extended to the entire Cannabis Sativa L. plant, in recent years slowly this plant is making a comeback even in the textile industry. A great many countries, including Europe, have regulated the production of industrial hemp, that is, hemp with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content below 0.3 percent. Thanks to this regulation, the production of industrial hemp has been revived, and with it, sectors that were once very economically significant, such as precisely the textile hemp sector, have also come back to life.

In fact, it is precisely in the field of fashion that hemp textile is making your giant comeback despite the years of total neglect that this production sector has faced. The return of textile hemp and the ever-increasing interest in natural fibers are making us reappreciate the benefits of this fabric, namely primarily its durability, breathability and thermoregulation. In fact, for these very reasons, the use of textile hemp in workwear is also being rediscovered, which, as you can imagine, is not entirely new, as one of the earliest applications of hemp fabric was for workwear, due primarily to the strength of the fabric.

A dive into the past: How textile hemp was used for clothing

As I have pointed out several times in this Magazine, the use of hemp as a textile is certainly not new in the clothing industry. It is believed, that as early as 8,000 B.C. textile material was made from hemp, but the pinnacle was reached in the Middle Ages, when hemp was used to create ropes, sails and very strong fabrics that were characterized by their resistance to wear and tear, even in salt water.

As time went on, textile hemp also began to be used for the manufacture of handwork garments. To give one example, hemp was frequently used in North America in the early 1600s to make clothing and especially worn by gold prospectors in the mines, work garments that were highly prized because they could withstand the heaviest stresses without suffering from tears, holes or deformation. Later, sugarcane cutters also used hemp pants, benefiting from the strength of this fabric.

In short, the use of this fabric is certainly not something new in the clothing manufacturing industry. If in past eras, the fiber was used to create more or less valuable but, in any case, high-quality garments, in the present day it has once again become a coveted material for those who manufacture premium work clothes of excellent workmanship.

Why do you need to hemp workwear clothes?

Il tessuto di canapa offre molteplici benefici. In effetti, questa fibra naturale è famosa in tutto il mondo per essere una delle più versatili ed ecologiche visto il suo processo di coltivazione di alto rendimento che non necessita di pesticidi né fertilizzanti. La sua sostenibilità fa sì che vestirsi di canapa sia la scelta responsabile dei lavoratori attenti all’ambiente, ma anche alla qualità dell’abbigliamento.

Resistance

In nature, one of the strongest natural fibers is definitely textile hemp. In fact, after its processing, it produces a yarn that is structurally hollow and hygroscopic. These properties ensure that this fabric is up to three times more resistant to any kind of stress or mechanical action such as wear and tear, tearing and even warping.

In light of this, it is quickly said: creating work clothes from hemp means that the garment can last for many years. The rubbing, abrasion and pressure to which fabrics are often subjected during work will no longer be a problem thanks to the high strength of hemp fiber. In addition, unlike what happens with other fabrics, hemp fabric becomes softer as the years go by, but it does not lose its natural shape, that is, it does not expand or shrink.

Versatility

History confirms that hemp fabric is extremely versatile. When combined with other natural fibers, such as precisely cotton or linen, it can give rise to all kinds of clothes, adaptable in both thickness and elasticity. This combination makes it possible to manufacture one-of-a-kind t-shirts, sweaters, jackets, shirts, smocks, backpacks and even shoes.

Environmental respect

Hemp is an environmentally friendly plant, requiring no pesticides or other chemicals to grow. In fact, the hemp plant respects the soil where it is grown, leaving it in excellent condition for future cultivation. In addition, the plant requires very little water when compared to other natural fibers, such as cotton.

Breathable

It is widely known that hemp textile offers incredible wicking properties. In fact, unlike other textiles, this fiber is able to retain and eliminate sweat while, at the same time, helping to keep the skin hydrated and dry. This benefit is very important for all those people who do manual labor and therefore have high perspiration.

Anti-microbial

In the working world it is normal to come into contact with bacteria of all kinds, dust mites and whatnot so it is essential to dress in garments that can protect the skin and the body in general from these invasions. In fact, textile hemp has the anti-bacterial and microbial properties.

Temperature controller

Workers need to wear clothing that regulates their body temperature, partly because they are often exposed to extreme weather conditions, such as wind, rain or cold temperatures. Hemp fabric, allows them to maintain ideal body temperature at all times, thanks to its thermoregulatory property. What it means. The yarn used in the production of the garments is characterized by its porosity, which helps the human body regulate its temperature even in extreme cases by ensuring coolness in summer and warmth in winter.

Searching for the sustainability in the workwear industry

The ever-increasing interest in natural fabrics has led some pioneering companies to expand their offerings by also introducing hemp fabric into their collections, even to cater to a particular sector, such as precisely that of workwear.

Patagonia

One of the leading companies toward environmental friendliness, namely Patagonia, has made hemp textile its flagship, betting on green gold as a fabric that will revolutionize the market. The company today produces different types of clothing for both men and women, but what makes the difference are the clothes created to meet the needs of workers while respecting the environment.

Thus was born the collection Patagonia Workwear which offers customers a wide assortment of work garments, such as jackets, overalls, caps, hats and pants for both men and women. These are fine, multi-pocketed and ultra-durable models that accompany the worker in every task.

Wortkoorl

Wortkoorl is an Australian company, run entirely by women predominantly of Aboriginal descent, who, through their project, wish to introduce the world to the importance of hemp as a textile and all the benefits it has to offer.

After years of research & development, the company has launched its collection of work clothes, such as precisely . safety shirts and polo shirts. These garments are comfortable to wear, but at the same time also durable, capable of lasting many years even when subjected to the heaviest stresses.

Conclusion

Textile hemp fiber is returning to its origins, namely its use as a workwear fabric once used by gold hunters in mines or by workers employed to cut sugar cane. Its strength, breathability and versatility make it possible to create clothing that can last for years without suffering rips or the damage typical of wear and tear, while ensuring quality and wearability for the worker as he or she performs his or her trade.

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