Could hemp clothing replace cotton?

 

All over the world young people have become galvanised into action, demanding from us all a sustainable and environmentally sound way of life, and there is no reason this should not extend into the world of fashion. Unfortunately the fashion industry is known as one the of main polluting industries , its production of crops and distribution methods contribute to the environmental pollution of air, water and soil. But there are other ways to produce environmentally friendly clothing and one of those ways is by the use of hemp fibre, so could hemp replace cotton?

The hemp plant has been used by humans for many centuries and it is believed that hemp was probably the earliest plants cultivated for textile fibre. Apparently archaeologists found a remnant of hemp clothing dating back to 8000 BC in what had once been ancient Mesopotamia, now known as Iraq. Production of hemp ceased once cotton became more popular, and of course there was a stigma attached to the use of hemp because of its association with marijuana. However, the growing market for sustainable clothing has brought hemp to the forefront once more, and many independent businesses and big companies, Levi Strauss released a new line of hemp jeans in 2019, are using hemp as an organic alternative to cotton.

Why we should be using hemp!

What are the advantages to using hemp as opposed to cotton? Well, it requires virtually no pesticides or chemical fertilisers, unlike cotton, which is said to be responsible for 25% of global agricultural chemicals used. Hemp also needs less water to grow and it helps to clean the soil around it by removing toxic material by a process known as phytoremediation. Cotton, on the other hand, causes water contamination by pesticides and minerals draining off from the cotton fields to pollute rivers and lakes, which then directly affects biodiversity.

Want more convincing? Clothing made from hemp is very durable, it has breathable and insulating properties, is naturally biodegradable and has anti microbial features. Fashionistas should also be pleased to hear that it doesn't lose its shape easily and is very good at retaining colour dye. What's not to like? As Sir David Attenborough said "This world is precious"

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