Hemp: the luxury of linen with incomparable comfort

Giorgio Armani, Patagonia, Ralph Lauren, Nike, J. Jill, Calvin Klein and J. Crew are all beginning to offer clothing made of hemp, a material that has in the past few decades been more hippie than hip. Although it has the look of fine linen, it doesn’t share that fabric’s tendency to wrinkle. Many experts consider it “bulletproof.”

Hemp loves to be cleaned. It’s not just amazingly strong and durable, it actually thrives on regular use and cleaning, becoming softer and more supple over time. While most hemp clothing can be washed and dried at home, dry cleaning is generally recommended for high-end garments, drapery hemp, upholstery hemp and decorative hemp.

Although hemp is just beginning to make a mainstream presence, The Lotus in the Old Market is devoted to this marvelous fabric. And other local stores like Backwoods, J. Jill and J. Crew have carried clothing made of hemp, especially in the spring and summer. It also has a fairly strong presence online. To find online stores which carry hemp clothing, use keywords of “hemp” and “clothing” – you’ll find several sites which carry high-end hemp apparel.

Hemp is washable linen, so to speak, that will give a lifetime of service. It has the look of classic linen but eventually feels like your cherished flannel. According to the Hemp Industries Association, the bark of the hemp stalk contains bast fibers, among Earth’s longest natural soft fibers. It is longer, stronger, more absorbent and is more insulative than cotton. It’s also highly resistant to rot, which is why ship’s ropes were once made of it. Hemp also holds it shape very well, stretching less than many other natural fibers. And only cotton takes in dyes as well.

Because of its highly porous make up, hemp quickly absorbs moisture, making it a cool and comfortable fabric for both clothing and bedding. It also dries rapidly. Like wool, it’s cool in summer and warm in winter. It’s also one of the few fabrics that are stronger wet than dry.

As a fabric, hemp offers the warmth and suppleness of a natural fiber but boasts a superior durability that is hard to match by other materials. Its versatility makes it a prime candidate for not only clothing but bedding, furniture, bedding and accessories. When combined with other natural fibers such as silk, hemp-blends offer an entirely new experience in fabric. It’s not surprising that clothing, accessory and other designers are experimenting with this venerable fabric.