9 Hemp Clothing Brands for Sustainable Style
Hemp clothing is becoming increasingly more popular with the rise of sustainable fashion. Hemp has had a complicated past as it was incredibly popular, but a step decline in America with the rise of cotton.
However, with eco-friendly clothing becoming more popular hemp has made a comeback. Let’s explore this fiber! This guide features 8 hemp fashion brands worth checking out if you’re interested in hemp clothing.
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What is Hemp?
A lot of people hear the word hemp and immediately think of marijuana. While hemp and marijuana are derived from the same plant in the Cannabaceae family, Cannabis sativa, there are two key differences between them.
The level of tetrahydrocannabinol (also known as THC, the substance that produces the “high” when smoking marijuana)
The legality. Hemp is a cannabis plant with less than 0.3% THC content that is legally grown and can produce products such as paper, plastic, rope, and construction materials. It is also used to produce hemp clothing, which has been making a much-needed comeback.
The History of Hemp
Hemps roots go way back dating as far as 8 000 BC. China has the longest history of the cultivation of hemp, weaving it into clothing and even using it to print paper.
From China, hemp spread across the world and was used not only for clothing but also for ships’ sails and ropes.
It’s reported by 1915, 8,400 acreages of hemp grew in the U.S.: 6,500 acres in Kentucky, 2,000 acres cumulatively in Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin and California.
Because of the fiber shortage of WWI, Minnesota, South Dakota, Michigan, Kansas, Iowa and Illinois, increased domestic production of hemp to 41,200 acres in 1917.
The Decline of Hemp in the USA
However, with the rise of cotton, and oil and steel tycoons nudging out hemp as a competing resource, its use started to wane.
By the following century, hemp’s reputation started to waver as it became associated with marijuana. In 1937 the Marijuana Tax Act was passed, placing a tax on all cannabis sales (including hemp), thus discouraging its production.
Today, with the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp may be legally produced as an agricultural commodity in 46 states as long as its THC content remains below 0.3%. Due to the wide range of uses of hemp, this is great news for eco-friendly fashion.
Is Hemp Fabric a Sustainable Fashion Choice?
With the heavy footprint fashion leaves on our planet, there’s an urgent need to make our closets greener, which means brands and labels are looking towards sustainable practices and fibers.
That’s where hemp clothing comes in. As a plant-based, sustainable fabric, it’s a great alternative not only for vegans but for eco-conscious consumers as well.
Hemp can be grown almost anywhere, doesn’t need a lot of water, does not deplete the soil of nutrients, and can be sown several times a year.
Its long roots help prevent soil erosion and since it acts as a natural repellent, doesn’t require the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
It’s also biodegradable and acts as a carbon sink, a natural system that sucks up and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
How is Hemp Turned into Clothing?
Hemp is not a wasteful crop, since practically every part of the hemp plant can be used, from the stalk to the seeds to the leaves. Seeds are used for their oil for paints, adhesives, and plastics, with the leaves used to make juice.
The inner, woody layer of the stalk can be used for paper and construction materials, while the outer bast fiber is used to make rope or yarn.
That’s how the process of making the fabric begins: separating the inner and outer stalks. This is known as retting.
The outer bast fibers are then spun together to make yarn that can be woven into fabric. Sometimes hemp is even blended with organic cotton to create an organic cotton blend.
Next is the dyeing process followed by stitching the fiber into shirts, pants, dresses, jackets, and even shoes.
For centuries, hemp fabric was used for clothing. Now, with more mindful consumers looking for sustainable, eco-friendly fashion alternatives, hemp clothing is making a comeback. Here are a few brands to look out for to fill your closet with greener alternatives.
9 Sustainable Hemp Clothing Brands
If you're ready to try out some hemp clothes these are some of the top hemp clothing brands creating quality clothes and keeping a low environmental impact.
Their sustainable clothing is an excellent choice for anyone who loves clothes made with natural fibers. These sustainable brands also go to show that stylish hemp clothing is possible!
Valani: Whimsical Style
Founder Vanni Leung wanted to design clothes that gave back to the planet. Her label Valani does just that with sustainable, vegan, plant-based clothing.
PC Valani
Valani patterns are strategically designed to minimize fabric waste. Should any scraps be left over, they’re used to make scrunchies or as fillings for stuffed animals and pillows.
Valani’s hemp clothing features women’s hemp dresses, tops, pants, and scrunchies.
Patagonia: Outdoor Sustainable Goods
Established in 1973, Patagonia is all about the great outdoors; and it’s not just about outfitting you for the great outdoors, but protecting it as well. Patagonia is constantly gearing towards zero waste, reduced emissions, and sustainable products; that includes hemp clothing.
Patagonia has a hemp collection offering a large variety of apparel from shirts and shorts to hats and overalls for men and women.
Thought: Eclectic Style
Thought is a clothing company that believes contemporary fashion and sustainability go hand-in-hand. Their bold fashion show customers that sustainable fashion can be fun. Thought has men and women’s clothing collections focusing on hemp.
tentree’s Classic Hemp Basics & Accessories
tentree makes Earth-First essentials using sustainable materials such as TENCEL, recycled polyester, organic cotton, and hemp. Every time you shop tentree, 10 trees are planted. tentree is proud to be a certified B-Corporation and ethically crafts their clothing around the world.
Their hemp clothing and accessories feature hemp hats, hemp button downs, hemp jackets, and more.
Eileen Fisher’s Hemp + Organic Cotton Blend
Eileen Fisher is a high end fashion brand focus on sustainability and circular fashion. This certified B Corporation uses organic, natural, and recycled materials to craft minimalist sustainable fashion perfect for creating a minimalist wardrobe.
Eileen Fisher partners with factories that pay livable wages and treat garment workers with respect.
Eileen Fisher’s hemp clothing features hemp blended with organic cotton to create dresses, pants, tops, and more.
Toad & Co: Pioneers of Eco-friendly Clothing
Starting in Telluride, Colorado, Toad & Co has expanded since its humble beginnings in 1991. Offering a wide range of men’s and women’s hemp clothing, their mission above all is sustainability.
Aliya Wanek: Black Owned Sustainable Fashion
Aliya Wanek is a Black woman owned sustainable fashion brand with a mission to create comfortable, stylish clothing ethically and sustainably as an extension of the wearer’s individuality.
If not sewing the garments herself, Aliya works with two small factories and local contractors in the Bay Area to produce and dye her garments, always taking into consideration ways to reduce the brand’s environmental impact. Shop hemp & organic cotton tops and sweatshirts with Aliya Wanek.
WAMA Hemp Underwear
You can’t forget about what’s underneath your clothes and for that there’s WAMA underwear, a label that specializes in hemp underwear for men and women. They’re a Green America-certified business whose vegan products and practices are aimed at quality and sustainably, as well as environmentally-friendly and socially responsible practices.
Bonus: Hemp Shoes
8000Kicks is an innovative sustainable shoe brand crafting high quality sneakers from hemp. These vegan shoes are strong, flexible, light weight, and splash proof.
Use the discount code HONEST for 10% off your hemp shoes. And be sure to check out my review!
Shopping for hemp clothing will not only be better for the planet but better for you too. Besides being longer-lasting, hemp fabric filters UV rays and, as a natural fiber, is better for your skin.
With several conscious labels to choose from, having hemp clothing in your closet means you’ll be stepping out in style, as well as stepping it up for yourself and the planet.
Hopefully this guide helped you learn about hemp material, why this is a great fabric, and discover some hemp apparel brands to try.
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