Over the years, we have become more aware of sustainable fashion. As the sustainable fashion trend started, the only name which grabbed the attention of everyone is Hemp clothing. And honestly speaking, we all started asking ourselves why we were not using more hemp clothes, and products altogether, for our family and us.
Believe it or not but hemp can be used for making plenty of products, such as Hemp bed sheets, canvas, jeans, shirts, dresses, hats, bags, ropes, cosmetic products, and paper. Earlier, Hemp fabric has had the reputation for being really coarse, uncomfortable, and only coming in that natural color.
Well, not anymore! Hemp fabric has really come a long way. Eco-conscious designers are now using it alone or blending it with other natural fibers for clothing that is comfortable, beautiful, and sustainable. Of the thousands of product uses of hemp, textiles are some of the oldest with some samples dating back thousands of years.
As a matter of fact, hemp was used for producing 80-85% of clothes in the USA till the 1920s. But much of the progress in hemp products and innovation was squashed in the mid-1930s by Major Corporations.
Now, it’s time for us to understand that why hemp we need to replace our wardrobe with hemp clothing. At present, most of us are using clothes that are made from synthetic fabric but have you ever thought of its consequences on your health and your family’s health? Keep scrolling to find out.
Wonder why hemp fabric is better than Synthetic fabrics?
Let’s just first figure out what is the difference between hemp fabric and synthetic fabric.
In the 21st century, synthetic fabrics are everywhere. The name of the consumer products game is “make it fast and make it cheap” and so the fast fashion trend was born.
In case, if you haven’t heard about fast fashion, it’s called that for a reason. It’s quick & cheap to make and flies out of stock because of its very low cost. Being cost-conscious is important but with fast fashion, low cost is equal to low quality. Because of low cost, consumers buy and buy and buy more…
But this ever-revolving wardrobe comes at a steep cost to your health and the health of the earth. You know that the new easy-to-care top you bought, which’s so flowy and never gets wrinkly, it’s likely made of a blend of polyester, rayon, nylon, or spandex. These are all synthetic fibers. We know that it seems harmless because it feels so good on and how can something that feels so good be bad for you right?
But synthetic fabrics are basically plastic fibers made by taking fossil fuels such as petroleum, natural gas, adding chemicals and a massive amount of energy to create polymers that are then formed into the threads. It is also treated with hazardous chemicals after its making that can cause cancer. We are wearing microplastics. These things leak into our skin and they are toxic. We shouldn’t be ingesting plastic through our mouths or through our pores.
Now imagine on a grand scale all the polyester, everything you have seen in the mall that’s man-made of clothing. So, essentially we are wrecking the functional system of our body just by wearing and purchasing this stuff so much.
Well! This is not the case with hemp fabric as hemp is a natural fiber and requires no harsh chemicals or treatment to form it into thread. And guess what? Natural Hemp fabrics are just as soft and versatile as their plastic counterparts.
Take a look at some of the benefits of Hemp fabric
Hemp clothing is taking over fast fashion all the way. The best part about wearing hemp from the consumer perspective is that it has plenty of benefits and will not harm our health in any way, unlike synthetic fabrics. Some of the benefits of hemp fabric are:-
Antimicrobial – When talking about antimicrobial nature, it simply means that it protects you from germs, anti-viral and anti-fungal. Because of this, it’s also odor resistant and doesn’t smell bad, which is not the case in synthetic or any other fabrics. In fact, it will make you feel fresh and gives you a pleasant smell all the time.
Hypoallergenic – It actually is very natural for people to have sensitive skin. So, if you are wearing polyester, you have a much higher chance of getting skin allergies. Hemp is hypoallergenic and keeps you safe and protected if you have sensitive skin. And you can rest assured that you aren’t getting allergies due to your clothes.
UV Resistant – Hemp fabric is UV resistant, which means it will protect you from the sun and its harmful UV rays. It’s especially helpful if you are a nature-loving person and spend your days outdoor. You will be safe from hazardous UV rays even if you are wearing a thin layer of hemp clothing.
Moisture Wicking – In the summer and rainy seasons, we often feel frustrated due to sweat and unpleasant smells. And if we are wearing polyester or any other such fabric then staying dry and smelling fresh is out of the option. But hemp has moisture-wicking qualities. It will make you feel fresh and dry all the time even in the rainy and summer seasons. There is no chemical smell.
Durable & Soft – Hemp gets softer as you wash it. Instead of degrading in the wash, hemp fabric actually gets softer and stronger with every wash as the water actually compacts the fibers and makes them smoother. Hemp fabrics are extremely strong and durable. So, you can rest assured that your hemp clothing will last longer than any of your other natural fiber clothing.
Final Thoughts
The reasons are crystal clear for using hemp clothing over any other fabrics. Hemp clothing is sustainable, durable, and comfortable. Though hemp clothing and fabric aren’t much available in comparison to wasteful and synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon.
But the good news is that many clothing companies are starting to use hemp and other natural fibers in their clothing and designs. As the demand by consumers for sustainable and ethically made clothing increases you can be sure to see more hemp clothing and textiles options.
We admit that grabbing a synthetic top, dresses, etc. can be tempting but we can resist it. We have a choice as a consumer. We can either continue to purchase the fast fashion trend clothing or we can take a step forward into the future with hemp for a better you and better earth. The choice is ours!