By Hannah
Hemp textiles are made from the stalk of a subspecies of Cannabis sativa that has very little of the psychoactive compound THC. Misunderstanding about the difference between hemp and marijuana has made hemp slightly controversial. Hemp brings to mind those woven man-necklaces everyone wore in college, but it's really a versatile fiber used for rope, paper, building materials, and all kinds of fabrics.
Environmental Impacts of Hemp
I should have talked a little about hemp when I wrote about linen last week. The processing and associated environmental issues are quite similar. It's a fast-growing, renewable resource requiring minimal fertilizers and pesticides. Like linen, the stalk fibers need to be retted, so the human health and environmental impact will depend on whether harsh chemicals are used.
Once retted, the fibers can be processed and woven or made into yarn. Fibers can also be made into rayon, through a similar energy and chemical intensive process as other plant fibers.
Hemp, especially organic hemp, is pretty sustainable. However, it's not cheap, running about twice the price of cotton for raw fabric or a tee shirt. It can be blended with many other fibers, so there's a lot of variety out there. I found these spiffy pants at The Hempest, made from hemp and recycled soda bottles like polyester is. $78, though.
For sewers and crafters interested in hemp fabric or blank tee shirts, etc., Hemp Traders can give you an idea of what it looks like.
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