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This ancient fibre is getting another day in the sun
Hemp is one of the oldest fibres cultivated and used by humans. Hemp has been used for everything from ropes, to paper, and of course, cloth. The versatile natural crop is ecologically sound, as hemp uses a lot less water than cotton to grow. It is current gathering fresh interest in the outdoor apparel world, keen to defray its reliance upon oil-based fabrics. Brands like Maloja have embraced the material and in 2021 are selling a wide range of activewear garments made from hemp. Much like traditional linen and Merino wool, similarly old, but recently ‘re-found’ materials, hemp (and most commonly hemp/cotton mix) are back on the scene. Hemp is perfect for rugged outdoor clothing as it can reduce sweat and odour, regulate moisture and repel dirt – it’s easy to grow, relatively inexpensive, so what’s not to like? Expect to see a lot more of this ancient, misunderstood and highly effective plant-based fibre from here on in.
