Forget rigid, dust-coloured sacks – an increasing number of fashion brands are incorporating ‘marijuana’s cousin’ into their designs thanks to its sustainability credentials
Hemp could be an answer to the fashion industry’s repeated calls for sustainable materials – but is its reputation holding it back? Here’s what you need to know about the eco-friendly fabric that has caught the attention of forward-thinking designers.
What does hemp look like?
Despite being synonymous with dust-coloured sacks, hemp is, in fact, used in more than 25,000 products globally. The fabric is comprised of long strands of fibre from within the stalk of plants and bears some resemblance to a matted horse’s mane before processing. The fibres are then spun together to produce a thread that can be woven into a fabric.
Hemp’s strength and durability means clothes made from it last longer. However, this has fuelled the misconception that hemp clothing is rigid and uncomfortable. “It needs the drive of designers and makers to use hemp proudly in a fashion-forward way,” says Stephanie Steele, a customer experience manager at Offset Warehouse who specialises in eco fabrics.
Read full article at The Guardian
