Top 10 Brands using Hemp Clothing.
According to a Forbes article published in October 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, US, American spending on clothing and footwear is on the decline. In 2019, Americans spent only 3% of their disposable income on clothing and footwear.
The fashion industry's lack of concern for its environmental responsibilities may be one of the reasons why younger generations are losing interest in its offerings.
The Carbon Footprint of the Fashion Industry
According to Forbes, the global fashion industry is the world's second-largest polluter. According to Business Insider, which reported on the same topic in October 2019, the fashion industry accounts for 10% of total global carbon emissions.
This is greater than the total carbon footprint of all flights and maritime activities combined. We have become more aware of the polluting effects of automobiles, heavy industries, and the use of single-use plastic, among other things. In the meantime, fashion has been a silent perpetrator.
Purchasing clothes more than doubled globally in 2014 compared to 2000, while keeping them halved. As a result, Every year, discarded clothing that ends up in landfills can fill up Sydney Harbor.
Laundry releases 500,000 tonnes of microfibers into our water systems each year, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles. Polyester fibers account for nearly 60% of these microfibers, clogging our waterways and wreaking havoc on marine life. Washing synthetic clothes contributes 35% of all microplastics found in oceans.
Replacing synthetic fibers with cotton is not a viable option. The fashion industry's other major offense is its high water consumption, which ranks second in the world. A large part of it is due to the use of water-intensive cotton.
According to experts, if the current trend of buying and disposing of clothes continues, the fashion industry's polluting footprint will rise to 26 per cent of the global total by 2050. We need to alter our consumption habits. However, it does not have to take the form of a reduction in our purchases.
Nature has provided a viable solution, and fashion brands have thankfully begun to recognize it. We're talking about hemp textiles, which are made from the fibers of the hemp plant. Hemp fabrics, like pure cotton, are biodegradable, but they have several advantages over cotton.
Some Fundamentals of Hemp and Hemp Textile
Hemp is a non-narcotic cousin of the drug cannabis, also known as marijuana. Both are members of the same plant species, Cannabis Sativa, but smoking hemp will not get you high. It lacks tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a substance with psychotropic properties found in high concentrations in the drug cannabis.
The fact that hemp fabrics require half the amount of water that cotton does is far from the only advantage of hemp fabrics. Hemp fabric is similar to cotton and linen in that it is soft on the skin and gets softer with each wash. However, in terms of durability, it outperforms cotton.
Hemp textile can completely block the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays, protecting our skin from their harmful, cancer-causing effects. In the process, it also retains color better than cotton. Because hemp fabrics are naturally resistant to pests and molds, they are easier to maintain.
Because of their natural breathability, hemp textile clothing is ideal for hot climates. Because of their natural thermostatic capacity, they are also effective in cooler climates.
Big Brands Are Recognizing the Benefits of Hemp Textiles
Fashion companies are becoming more aware of the industry's massive pollution impact. More and more brands are warming up to the use of hemp textile to create fashionable clothing in a variety of styles ranging from undergarments to fashion wear for various temperature zones.
The decriminalization of hemp after nearly a century of prohibition due to misclassification as a narcotic has greatly aided. According to market experts, hemp fabrics are on their way to becoming the next big thing in the fashion industry.
Before we present the list of the top ten fashion brands that use hemp fabrics, there is one clarification: We conducted extensive research to ensure that we feature brands mentioned on a variety of fashion websites. However, no information on the exact ranking of these brands is available.
We couldn't find any information about how much hemp clothing these fashion brands sell or how much money they make. As a result, the numbering here is simply a serialization – not a ranking.
- Levi's Hemp Clothing
Of course, we have to start with Levi's. According to legend, the first pair of Levi's jeans were made of hemp fabric. Whether that is true or not, it is undeniable that the denim icon launched its first line of hemp-fabric clothing in March 2019.
The first collection included a pair of jeans and a jacket made from a blend of 31% soft hemp textile and 69% cotton. "Cottonized hemp," as Levi's global head of product innovation Paul Dillinger refers to it, is currently at the heart of the company's R&D.
According to Dillinger, it is a long-term R&D effort. In five years, the goal is to produce clothing made of 100 per cent hemp cotton: hemp clothing with a cotton feel. According to Dillinger, the consumer response has been positive.
Source: https://www.levi.com/US/en_US/blog/article/levis-wellthread-x-outerknown-present-cottonized-hemp/
- Jungmaven
Washington-based Jungmaven specializes in casuals, with the brand motto "ultra-simplicity." It has launched the Hemp 2020 campaign with a lofty goal: by 2020, everyone in the United States will own at least one hemp t-shirt. To give credit where credit is due, this brand has been using hemp textile for years.
- The Hemp Trading Company is number three on the list (THTC)
Looking at brands that have been trying to convince people of the environmental benefits of hemp textile over cotton for a long time takes us away from the United States. The Lawson brothers Drew and Gavin, along with Daniel Sodergren, founded THTC in the United Kingdom in 1999. THTC, a street fashion brand popular around the world, was named the UK's most ethical menswear brand in 2016. This brand has been at the forefront of the fight to make fashion use more environmentally friendly materials such as hemp, bamboo, and even recycled plastic fibres.
- Hempy’s
Albert Lewis, the founder of Hempy's Surf, founded this brand in 1995 with the firm belief that hemp is the answer to a slew of sustainability issues staring us in the face. Apart from hemp textile apparel, Hempy's sells a variety of hemp-based products, ranging from ropes and twines to lip balms.
- Hoodlamb
This Amsterdam-based company refers to itself as "the hemp tailors." Hoodlamb, which was founded in the mid-1990s, is credited with being the first company to produce a winter jacket out of hemp fabric.
- Recreator
This brand, which was founded in 2012, has been at the forefront of the fight to legalise hemp in the United States. Recreator offers a wide range of hemp clothing under the brand slogan "From Seeds to Stitch."
- Nomad's Hemp wear
Nomad's Hemp Wear Since 2002, this brand has popularised hemp-fabric summer and winter wear. Their distinct mark is the combination of this eco-friendly fabric with a contemporary urban sensibility.
- Hempest
Since its inception in 1995, this Boston-based company has been sourcing hemp fibres from all over the world. They have strong ties with hemp farmers and mills in China, the world's largest producer of hemp.
- Patagonia
In 2017, this company debuted an impressive hemp textile summer wear line.
- WAMA Underwear
This PETA-approved vegan brand with Green America certification promotes hemp textile underwear for men and women. The company is convinced that hemp fabric is the best material for covering our private parts because of its antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Switch to hemp clothing for your holiday shopping this year!
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