Why Hemp?

What are the advantages of Hemp Fabric?

Hemp makes a luxurious, long lasting and beautiful natural fabric. All of that, and it is great for the planet too! Hemp is also naturally antibacterial, blocks UV rays, is hypoallergenic and completely biodegradable. 

Tea towels made from 100% hemp fabric

Hemp is luxurious and soft to the touch

The feel of hemp fabric may surprise you because it is an incredibly soft fabric, similar to linen. And the more times you wash it, the softer it becomes.

Hemp is Absorbent

Hemp fabric is 3 times more absorbent than cotton. That kind of wicking power is why hemp is so great as a towel. It also resists soiling, stains are more easily washed out than with other fabrics.

Hemp is Comfortable

Hemp fibers are hollow and have tiny holes throughout. This allows hemp cloth to breath. Hemp will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Hemp is Great for the Earth

When you choose hemp fabric, you make a statement about protecting the earth and the immediacy of reversing climate change. Planting hemp helps regenerate soil. Meaning that it can be grown on fallow land that can’t be used to grow anything else and it will help regenerate that land as it grows so that it can support other types of plants. Essentially, hemp reverses the impacts of industrial farming.

Hemp uses far fewer resources to create than cotton or flax (linen). Hemp can be grown without the use of pesticides or herbicides, and it requires so little water that many farms can grow it without supplemental irrigation. 15% of the world’s pesticides are used to produce cotton for clothes. Hemp doesn't need pesticides because it is naturally resistant to most pests.

An acre of land can be used to produce 2.5 times the amount of fiber as cotton, or 6 times the amount of fiber as flax. That means we don’t have to clear forests to grow hemp.

Hemp doesn’t deplete the soil that it grows on. It improves it! Hemp is so good for the land that some farms have been growing hemp year after year for over 2,000 years without having to do any type of crop rotation or rest period.

As an organic fiber, hemp introduces no microplastics into our water supply, and it is biodegradable

Hemp Can Take Abuse

Hemp fiber is stronger and more durable than any other natural fiber. You can sweat all over it. You can put it out in the sun. You can wash it with very cold or very hot water.

What Are the Downsides of Hemp?

No fabric is perfect. There are a couple of things to be aware of when you own hemp:

  1. Hemp’s only weakness is chemical solvents like acid or bleach. Don’t bleach your hemp and it will last for decades.
  2. Hemp is dyed by the same processes as cotton and linen, which means dyes and prints will have the same tendency to fade without proper care
  3. Cost. Hemp is not expensive because of anything special about the way it is produced. It is expensive because the politics behind it haven’t always made sense. As a result, the infrastructure to produce hemp on a scale to compete with cotton and linen hasn’t been created yet. Junu Jungle’s mission is to change that. Because we believe in hemp as a means to improve our global environment, we want to see hemp assume its rightful place as the everyday fabric which will only happen when people start buying products made with hemp.

Why choose hemp vs linen?

Both hemp and linen offer a lot of positive advantages over synthetics and cotton. They both absorb water very well, fold easily, are biodegradable and resist pests like moths. 

That said, hemp produces 250% more fiber than cotton and 600% more fiber than flax on the same land and has the highest yield per acre of any natural fiber. Hemp fibers are 2-3 times as long as flax linen fibers accounting for their superior strength. Hemp is highly resistant to mold, rot, saltwater and ultraviolet sunlight.

Why choose hemp over organic cotton?

Hemp is a fast-growing crop, yet requires very little water. In some places, hemp crops are not even irrigated, relying solely on available water. Organic cotton is better than traditional cotton in this regard but is no match for hemp. Hemp is also a natural soil regenerator, whereas cotton depletes the soil of its nutrients and contributes to erosion. 

Hemp is 3 times more absorbent than cotton. This makes it a better material for applications like towels, and it also means the material takes dye better. Hemp retains color better than any other natural fabric.

Why choose hemp over bamboo?

Bamboo grows fast, requires few resources to grow and generates a lot of fiber. Hemp does these things better, but that is only the beginning. To be used as a fabric, bamboo requires a lot of processing. It is first pulverized and turned into a pulp. This pulp is then extruded into threads to create rayon. The process is energy-intensive and creates a lot of pollution. In terms of sustainability, bamboo does not even compete with traditional cotton.

Where does hemp fabric come from?

Most hemp is grown in China along with small areas in Europe, India, other parts of Asia, and Canada. Our hemp fabrics are currently sourced from China, India and Poland. But we are working on sourcing American-grown hemp. As hemp farming was recently legalized in the United States, we believe we can get there soon. 

What is Hemp fabric?

Hemp fabric is made from hemp plants which are the same species as marijuana plants but with a significantly lower amount of THC. Hemp plants do not contain significant amounts of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. 

Hemp has a lot of different uses including CBD oil, hemp milk, hemp seeds, paper, plastics, fabrics and much more.

Hemp plants growing together

How is Hemp fabric made?

Hemp plants grown for fabric are typically grown very closely together, which forces the plant to seek out light by growing tall. A tall plant produces longer fibers which are then processed and woven into fabric

Historically, hemp fabric was used only for industrial purposes or by the disadvantaged as it was rough to the touch. But an enzyme-based softening process invented in the 1980s transformed the feel of the fabric, turning it into a luxuriously soft material. 

Hemp fabrics can now be found in a variety of weaves including denim, twill, terry, jersey, knit, herringbone, jacquard, fleece, and much more. 

Is your hemp fabric fair trade?

Yes! Our hemp fabric is sourced from fair trade suppliers certified by the Fair Wear Foundation. That means the employees of our suppliers all work a maximum of 40-60 hours per week, receive regular lunch and work breaks, and earn reasonable wages in safe and comfortable conditions. Our products are sewn in Los Angeles, by contract with a woman-owned business and paid a living wage.

  • The first American flag, sewn by Betsy Ross, was made of hemp
  • Hemp cultivation dates back at least 8,000 years, it is considered one of the longest cultivated plants
  • During World War 2, the USDA encouraged farmers to grow hemp for the war effort, even producing a film in 1942 called “Hemp for Victory”
  • The Vikings used hemp extensively in their boats. It was used to make rope, boat caulking and sails
  • In 1619, every resident of Jamestown was required to produce at least 100 hemp plants
  • The Hindu Vedas, a 3,400-year-old religious text, called hemp one of the five most sacred plants. It was used for medicine, nutritional foods and its fiber was used for textiles.
  • George Washington farmed hemp at Mt. Vernon. He used his hemp rope in a large-scale fishing operation that he operated, as well as for sails. Thomas Jefferson also farmed hemp

 

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