This Earth Day, we wanted to talk to you about hemp fabrics and why we use hemp in all our fabric products instead of cotton.
So what is hemp?
Hemp has a very long history of being used as a fibre; in fact, it has been cultivated for thousands of years on almost every continent. It has been used in clothing, ropes and sails throughout history.Hemp fabric has various natural advantages: keeping you warm in winter, cool in summer, and even protecting you from UV rays.
The fibre produced from pure hemp is very similar to linen in texture. It can be blended with other natural fibres to create fabrics with the durability of hemp and the softness of cotton or bamboo.
Hemp has the nickname "weed" for a reason. It's a densely growing plant and literally chokes out any competing plants. This means harsh chemical herbicides aren't necessary. Hemp also naturally reduces pests, so no pesticides are usually needed. Amazingly it also returns 60-70% of the nutrients it takes from the soil!
Why did we choose hemp for the Game Changer and Shape Tape when other brands are still using cotton and other synthetic fabrics?
Unless you're using organic cotton in your products (which most companies do not), the cost to the environment for these single-use products is just too high. At NOOD, our goal is to be kind - to the planet, to each other and to our skin too! Single use products don't have to be unnecessarily wasteful, so we found a better solution.
Here are just some of the reasons we love hemp fabric so much:
- Hemp is grown without the use of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides or genetically modified seeds.
- Not only is hemp gentle on the earth, but it also requires very little water, especially when compared to cotton, which, according to studies, uses "about 50 percent more water per season than hemp." But that's not all. According to the same studies, "When you add processing into the equation, cotton uses more than four times as much water as hemp."
- Hemp is one of the strongest natural fibers. This means clothes last longer, stay in shape longer, and holds their strength when wet. Yep - when we say our products are sweat and waterproof - it's not just the adhesive but also the fabric!
- Skin-safe and anti-bacterial: Hemp is breathable, great in hot climates, and it's the best natural fibre for anti-bacterial properties. Hemp's been used for thousands of years and made from Cannabis Sativa fibre (otherwise known as industrial hemp).
As times change and cannabis legalization gathers momentum, hemp is making a comeback. More countries loosening regulations and more information on its eco-friendly properties has helped it gain more acceptance.
Happy Earth Day from the girls at Team NOOD at The NOODIST!
