What Is Hemp Cloth, Sustainable Fashion’s New Favourite Material?

From lyocell to linen, the fashion world has been looking for ways to move away from plastics and less eco-friendly materials in favour of organic and sustainable fabrics. Hemp clothing has been a key player in many sustainable fashion brands that are on the rise, so let’s break down what it is exactly. 

What is hemp cloth?

Hemp cloth is a type of material derived from the cannabis sativa plant, and it has actually been historically used by many cultures for thousands of years. Though now a well-known fabric in smaller sustainable fashion brands, the first-ever pair of Levi’s jeans made in 

Why is hemp a sustainable fabric?

Hemp is a sustainable fabric for a number of reasons:

• It uses much less water than cotton — around 50% less. 
• It also uses a smaller landmass than cotton. Hemp is a plant that grows very densely, so it grows in a more efficient way in terms of landmass, making it more sustainable
• It is gentle on soil, returning around 70% of the nutrients it takes from soil.

This makes it a good sustainable fabric, as its growth is sustainable, and from organic farmers, it is gentle on the environment. 

For our favourite sustainable fashion brands, this should be your next read.