All about Hemp
Hemp is perfect for any occasion - it can be worn at home, at work or for sports. 

Hemp is very durable and lasts up to three times longer than cotton. 

Its unique structure makes hemp garments warm in winter and cool in summer. 

It is an environmentally friendly product, grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides. 

Hemp clothes become softer and more malleable each time they are worn or washed. 

Wearing hemp is beneficial to the skin, helping to keep it clean. 

Hemp is unlike any other fabric - its wearers often describe feeling 'protected'. 

Hemp offers far more protection against ultraviolet rays than normal clothing. 

Clothes made from hemp have their own unique 'personality', according to legend hemp is alive.

What is hemp?

Hemp is a plant that has been cultivated by people for past 12 thousand of years. The amount of manufactured hemp exceeds the manufacturing of all other plants. Its scientific name is “cannabis sativa”. “Sativa” means “industrial”. The US Department of Agriculture registered over 25000 different goods made from hemp: ranging from food products to dinamite. The most well known of these are textile goods, oils, make-up, fuel, paper, plastic, fiber, dyes, food products, and explosives.

Historical facts

“The Colombian History of the World” dates the hemp production back to 8000 BC. 70% of the worlds industry was involved in hemp production util 1883. According to the opinion of etymologists of the Jerusalem Jewish University, hemp was even mentioned in the Bible as “cineibosin” or “cannabos” as an ingredient of the holy balm. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp on their plantations because it was a profitable business in North America at the time, since hemp was used in the production of oils and lubricants, as well as in textile manufacturing. Henry Ford built a hemp processing machine, thus making a significant input into the development of the industry. For centuries the Bible was published on paper made from hemp. In France some copies of such bibles are still preserved for future generations. Nowadays many scientists mention the positive impact that hemp goods have on health, and the contribution of hemp into the conservation of our planet’s environment.

How the fabric is made

Hemp grows in less than 3 months, and up to 150 plants can be grown on one square metre of land. When there is such a fast growth, it would be wasteful to use herbicides. Cannabis does not get infected with diseases caused by insects; therefore no pesticides need to be used. We would like to note just for comparison that about 26% of all chemicals utilised worldwide in the agricultural sector are used in the cotton production.

After the harvest, hemp stems are soaked in water for a long time in order to start separating the fibres. After drying, the raw material is cleaned from any waste and shaken. Recently new alternative technological processes of separating fibres, which use ultrasound and steam, have been developed. It reduces the labour-output ratio and makes the material softer, while maintaining its durability. Usually cotton fibre is treated with chemicals, which is absolutely impermissible for hemp, since it can lose its durability. After the separation, fibres are ready for thread manufacturing and then fabric production. It is an interesting fact that hemp is the only plant, which can be completely used in production, including its roots and seeds, with no waste.

Why are hemp clothes better?

Research implemented in Washington State University confirms that hemp has a positive impact on human skin. It stimulates the functioning of glands, quickens the division of skin cells, and facilitates the harmonisation of the condition of the nervous system. Hollow parts of fibres ensure the hydrogen intake, protecting from anaerobic bacteria. It is proved that hemp footwear can prevent feet fungus infection. Hemp fibre is the most durable of natural fibres: it is 3.3 times more durable than cotton fibre, thus the life cycle of hemp goods in comparison with goods made from other materials increases in three-fold.

The Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Science has proved that hemp fabric can effectively reflect up to 95% of ultraviolet rays, while cotton reflects only 30%. Spectral analysis of fibre using ions registered nine elements beneficial for health in much higher quantities than in any other fibre, and what's more important, here hemp can be kept more easily and for a longer period of time.

Textile goods made from hemp are much more tolerant to high temperatures than goods made of other fabric. When heated up to 370° they do not change colour – in usual circumstances, the colour can remain the same for many years. In fresh air the humidity of hemp fabric is only 12%, but it reaches 30% when air humidity is up to 95%. Even in low humidity, the fabric does not accumulate static current, that’s why it is considered to be an isolating material.

Hemp fiber brings the breath of nature closer to our skin.