Best Hemp Clothing Brands + Hemp Facts [2024]

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Are you looking for Hemp facts?

Then you’re in the right place because we’ve got a whole bunch of facts about hemp material, how hemp’s grown, and how to make hemp fabric. Plus, we’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of hemp and what hemp is used for.

Hemp, often known as Industrial Hemp, is part of the Cannabis family and belongs to the species Cannabis sativa. However, unlike the closely related Cannabis species Marijuana, hemp contains very low levels (<0.3%) of THC compound and therefore does not have the same psychedelic effects.

Hemp is used as a food, as the hemp seeds are edible, for hemp paper production, and as a fiber for hemp cloth and linen.

Hemp plants are grown from hemp seed and, like bamboo, are one of the fastest-growing plant species on earth. The hemp plant grows in plantations and grows tall, up to 5 meters, with distinct leaves.

Hemp vs Cotton hemp facts
Hemp Plants

The largest cultivator of hemp worldwide is China, which cultivates around 50% of the world’s hemp. It is estimated that China has approximately 66,700 hectares of land growing hemp (2019). China is followed by France, which is the second-largest producer worldwide, with around 18,000 hectares, followed by Chile.

Evidence shows that hemp has been used as a fiber for cloth for over 3,000 years, with reports of hemp cultivation in China in 2800 bc.

Check out the handy infographic below, which describes how hemp fabric is created.

How hemp fabric is made
[Source]
  • Breathable material
  • Strong and durable fibers
  • Hemp is naturally antimicrobial
  • Hemp fabric is naturally UV resistant
  • Hemp is an eco-friendly fabric that absorbs CO2, fertilizes the soil, and requires little irrigation.
  • Biodegradable as it is a natural fiber.
  • Replenishes soil
  • Material can wrinkle easily.
  • Negative consumer perspective on hemp.
  • Hemp clothes can be more expensive than cotton or cheap polyester clothing.

Yes! Hemp is a sustainable material. Hemp requires half as much water as other natural materials, including cotton, plus hemp is naturally pest-resistant, so it doesn’t rely on large quantities of pesticides.

In addition, hemp requires less land usage, and unlike cotton, hemp replenishes the soil it’s grown in.

  • Hemp needs approximately half as much land and half as much water as cotton does to produce.
  • Hemp does not require harmful pesticides or fertilizers.
  • Hemp replenishes the soil, whereas conventional cotton farming damages the soil.
  • Hemp is a faster-growing crop.
  • Hemp fabric is up to 3x stronger than cotton.

Hemp material has many uses, including:

As Hemp fabric is making a comeback and entering mainstream materials, we are seeing hemp being used by brands as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional cotton and synthetic fibers such as polyester.

We’ve rounded up a list of brands producing great Hemp products!

1. WAMA Underwear

WAMA hemp underwear

Materials: 100% hemp, Green America Certified, and PETA-approved materials

Best for: hemp underwear for men and women

Ships to: the US & International

Hemp underwear

2. Buffy Bedding

Buffy hemp sheets

Materials: 100% hemp, safe dyes

Best for: Natural hemp bedding made with nontoxic dyes, shipped in recyclable packaging.

Ships to: Worldwide

Buffy hemp bedding

3. 8000Kicks

8000 kicks hemp shoes

Materials: Hemp uppers, algae bloom soles

Best for: Waterproof hemp shoes

Ships to: Worldwide

8000 Kicks hemp sneakers

4. Valani

Materials: Hemp linen and Tencel blend of eco-friendly fabrics

Best for: Women’s hemp clothing

Ships to: the US & International

We hope you’ve learned some interesting new facts about hemp. Hemp is a great sustainable material and is an eco-friendly alternative to cotton.

We have loads more resources if you’d like to learn about other eco-friendly materials including the difference between organic cotton vs cotton, jute, and linen.

If you have any questions or feedback, let us know in the comments below.

Bethany
Bethany

Bethany Worthington BSc (Hons) (she/her) is the Sustainable Fashion Editor and Co-founder of Ecothes. She has a passion for the environment, and a long love of all things clothing, and combines those two interests with Ecothes. In her free time she loves dancing, hiking in the countryside, and laughing with friends.

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