HEMP

Hemp Fabric Properties

Hemp is such a widely versatile plant, from the seeds which are eaten to the fibres which are used to make fabric.  Historically Hemp fabric has long been associated with burlap sacks, but as you can see from the way we have used it at Noble Kind, it's no longer thought of in the same way.

Hemp is part of the Bast fibre family, which means it has similar properties as Flax (Linen), Ramie, Jute and other wild plants such as Nettle.  These fibres have wonderful properties such as being breathable, durable and antibacterial.   The majority of Hemp we source is from China, who are one of the worlds largest producers and manufactures of Hemp fabric.

Dyes used on our Hemp/Organic Cotton fabrics are all Oeko-Tex 100 certified procion low impact, fibre reactive dyes, which are nontoxic, safe and eco-friendly. 

 

 

Growing and Cultivation

  • Hemp Crops use no pesticides as it is generally pest tolerant, meaning hemp is grown ‘organically’. Producers rarely go to the effort and costs of becoming officially organically certified, so you will rarely see hemp identified as ‘organic’ for this reason.  
  • Is crop heavy, producing 2-3 times more fibre per acre than cotton and up to 4 times more fibre per acre of trees.
  • Hemp crops have deep roots which break up hard soils, enriching the soil and preventing erosion.
  • Grows quickly, being ready to harvest in around 90 days.

 

Processing and Use

  • The part of the hemp plant used to make hemp fabric is known as bast. The bast is stripped from Hemp after cultivation and processed to make the yarn, which is then spun into fabric.
  • Hemp fibre is often mixed with other fibres such as cotton to provide a softer feel.
  • Besides being processed for yarn/fabric, the other parts of the plant are used for products such as seeds/oil for consumption, beauty products and construction materials (yep, just Google Hempcrete).

 

Fabric Properties

  • Breathable
  • Strong (durable and gets better with time, similar to Linen)
  • Manufactures well
  • Antibacterial
  • Moisture-Wicking
  • UV resistant
  • Recyclable
  • Biodegradable