ORIGIN: NEPAL
Hemp is often referred to as the “super fiber.” It can be grown in almost any climate and uses very little water. Hemp is an extremely fast growing crop that produces more fiber yield per acre than any other source. Hemp can produce 250% more fiber than cotton using the same amount of land. Its unique structure also allows it to absorb more carbon dioxide and produce more oxygen. Hemp plants leave soil in excellent condition for succeeding crops because their long root systems replenish the soil with nutrients and nitrogen. Those long roots also help control erosion of topsoil by anchoring and protecting the soil from runoff, much like a forest. The thick, fast-growing canopy of leaves on each plant block out most sunlight from reaching the ground. This keeps other weeds and pests from destroying the crop, eliminating the need for pesticides.
Hemp is the strongest natural fiber in the world and one of the most versatile. Depending on how they are woven, hemp fabrics can be softer than cotton, sturdier than denim, and drape better than linen. Besides being put to use in the textile industry, hemp is used to make paper, in food products, and even for building materials. Hemp products are also 100% biodegradable!
Perhaps the only downside to hemp is that it cannot be grown domestically. The fibers are derived from the stems of marijuana plants, so hemp cultivation is illegal in the United States. Luckily, many other countries don’t have such restrictions. Barkha sources her hemp fabrics from co-ops in Nepalese villages high in the Himalayas. She has been to these villages herself to confirm that the fiber cultivation and the manufacturing processes are, in fact, “green.” She has also verified that the workers that create the fabrics are treated well and receive fair wages for their work. Her hemp offerings are all quality hand-woven fabrics made by the villagers on traditional hand looms, so you can rest assured that their sale will directly benefit artisans in developing nations to make a livelihood off of their crafts.
