Since Brian Grays recently tweeted he intended to emphasize fiber --- particularly hemp fiber --- going forward, I thought an exploration of cloth and apparel might be of interest.
First, what is hemp fabric?
Hemp is a lightweight fabric with a similar drape (ability to mold or cling to a form) to that of linen. Hemp clothing is UV, mold, and mildew resistant, while being highly absorbent and breathable. It is an excellent fabric for outdoor gear. The tensile strength of hemp fiber is three times that of cotton, meaning hemp fabric has a long product lifespan. Since hemp clothing is naturally antimicrobial, one would not need to wash it as often. This benefit further reduces wear on the product as well as water consumption during its lifespan. Hemp fabric dyes very easily and retains color well, which also means hemp clothing uses much less water during the dyeing process (a form of pollution).
Hemp clothing actually gets softer with each wash, so you may want to throw it in for a spin cycle even if you don’t really need to. When you do wash hemp clothing, it is an easy, no hassle clean. It can withstand hot or cold water, and if the article is preshrunk, it can be tumble dried. Two brands that do hemp clothing right are Jungmaven and Hemp Tailor. I suggest you check them out if hemp clothing is of interest to you.
The cloth and apparel industry is huge, and much of the industry has left our shores for cheaper labor and fewer regulations overseas. The cost of that departure is now being felt during this time of the corona virus. Something to think about, if masks and gowns worn by medical personnel were made of hemp fabric, they would be naturally antimicrobial. I suggest that is a big plus. However, an even bigger plus is the fact that hemp is grown right here in the United States, and it is abundantly available. Furthermore, hemp does not require the amount of pesticides, water, and fertilizer that cotton needs, and hemp actually improves the quality and depth of soil.
Kgem
First, what is hemp fabric?
Hemp is a lightweight fabric with a similar drape (ability to mold or cling to a form) to that of linen. Hemp clothing is UV, mold, and mildew resistant, while being highly absorbent and breathable. It is an excellent fabric for outdoor gear. The tensile strength of hemp fiber is three times that of cotton, meaning hemp fabric has a long product lifespan. Since hemp clothing is naturally antimicrobial, one would not need to wash it as often. This benefit further reduces wear on the product as well as water consumption during its lifespan. Hemp fabric dyes very easily and retains color well, which also means hemp clothing uses much less water during the dyeing process (a form of pollution).
Hemp clothing actually gets softer with each wash, so you may want to throw it in for a spin cycle even if you don’t really need to. When you do wash hemp clothing, it is an easy, no hassle clean. It can withstand hot or cold water, and if the article is preshrunk, it can be tumble dried. Two brands that do hemp clothing right are Jungmaven and Hemp Tailor. I suggest you check them out if hemp clothing is of interest to you.
The cloth and apparel industry is huge, and much of the industry has left our shores for cheaper labor and fewer regulations overseas. The cost of that departure is now being felt during this time of the corona virus. Something to think about, if masks and gowns worn by medical personnel were made of hemp fabric, they would be naturally antimicrobial. I suggest that is a big plus. However, an even bigger plus is the fact that hemp is grown right here in the United States, and it is abundantly available. Furthermore, hemp does not require the amount of pesticides, water, and fertilizer that cotton needs, and hemp actually improves the quality and depth of soil.
Kgem
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