Hemp Textile
At Beyond Cotton, we believe that the future of fashion and textiles lies in materials that respect both people and planet. One fiber that's been making a serious comeback? Hemp. Once widely used and then forgotten, hemp is now regaining its rightful place as one of the most sustainable and versatile fibers out there.
Hemp is a bast fiber harvested from the stalk of the Cannabis sativa plant. Unlike its psychoactive cousin, industrial hemp contains negligible THC and has been cultivated for centuries for its fibers, seeds, and oils. Historically used for sails, ropes, and canvas (yes, that word comes from cannabis), hemp is now a modern eco-fiber making waves in apparel and home textiles.
Properties
Why Designers and Manufacturers Love Hemp:
- Strength & Durability: Hemp is 2–3 times stronger than cotton. Garments made from hemp can last decades without wearing out.
- Moisture-Wicking & Breathable: Its hollow fibers wick moisture away and keep the skin cool and dry—ideal for hot, humid climates.
- Antimicrobial & UV Resistant: Hemp naturally resists bacteria and provides better sun protection than many other fibers.
- Softness Over Time: While pure hemp starts off feeling like linen, it softens beautifully with every wash.
- Dye-Friendly: Hemp readily absorbs dye, producing rich, long-lasting colors.
- 100% Biodegradable: Once composted, hemp returns to the earth without polluting the environment.
Applications
- Apparel: T-shirts, denim, jackets, underwear, socks, and yoga wear
- Home Textiles: Curtains, bedsheets, towels, upholstery
- Technical Uses: Ropes, webbing, insulation, geotextiles
- Accessories: Bags, hats, shoes, and backpacks
Modern innovations have also led to cottonized hemp, making it soft and spinnable on standard cotton machines.
Sustainability
Hemp might just be the most sustainable fiber on the planet. Here's why:
- Less Water: Hemp needs only a fraction of the water that cotton requires
- No Pesticides: Naturally resistant to pests, hemp typically needs no chemical sprays
- Soil Health: Hemp restores nutrients to the soil and prevents erosion
- High Yield: Hemp can yield up to twice as much fiber per acre as cotton
- Carbon Capture: Each ton of hemp grown sequesters around 1.6 tons of CO₂
- Zero Waste: Every part of the hemp plant can be used—for fiber, food, fuel, and even building materials
Production Process
How Hemp is Processed Into Fabric
- Harvest: Grown in just 90–120 days
- Retting: Natural microbial action separates fiber from woody stalks
- Decortication: Machines extract long bast fibers
- Combing and Cleaning: Fibers are refined for spinning
- Spinning: Fibers are spun into yarn
- Weaving/Knitting: Yarns become fabric
- Finishing: Mechanical softening, dyeing, and washing prepare the final textile
Modern improvements like enzyme retting and cottonization make this process cleaner and more scalable.
Where Hemp Grows
China
Global leader in hemp fiber production
Europe
France, Romania, the Netherlands
North America
Canada and the United States (especially Colorado and Kentucky)
Asia
India, Nepal, Thailand
Hemp grows well in temperate climates and is now cultivated in over 70 countries.
Recent Innovations
Cottonized Hemp
Soft enough to replace cotton
Eco-Processing
Enzyme-based degumming and closed-loop retting
New Blends
Hemp + Tencel, hemp + organic cotton, hemp + recycled polyester
Biocomposites
Used in car parts and insulation
Recycled Hemp Textiles
Mechanically re-fiberized for reuse
These innovations are pushing hemp beyond niche markets into mainstream adoption.
How Hemp Compares to Other Fibers
| Feature | Hemp | Cotton | Polyester | Bamboo Viscose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Use | Low | Very High | Low | Moderate |
| Pesticides Needed | None/Minimal | High | None | Low |
| Strength | Very High | Moderate | High | Moderate |
| Breathability | Excellent | Excellent | Low | Excellent |
| Softness | Improves Over Time | Very Soft | Variable | Very Soft |
| Biodegradability | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| CO₂ Sequestration | High | Low | Negative | Moderate |
Hemp consistently performs better than cotton and polyester across most sustainability and durability metrics.
Top 10 Global B2B Suppliers of Hemp Yarns and Fabrics
Hemp Fortex
China
Premium hemp blends and fabrics with GOTS certification
EnviroTextiles
USA/China
Pioneers in sustainable hemp textiles
HempFlax
Netherlands
Vertically integrated hemp cultivator and fiber producer
Dun Agro
Netherlands
Hemp for textiles and construction
South Hemp Tecno
Italy
Specialists in Mediterranean-grown hemp
American Hemp LLC
USA
Fiber and hurd processors based in North Carolina
Parkland Hemp Co-op
Canada
Canadian fiber producers and processors
Canah International
Romania
Hemp textiles and health food company
Hemp Inc.
USA
Fiber-focused operations with U.S.-grown hemp
Konoplex
Russia
Major fiber hemp processor for Eastern Europe
Final Thoughts
Hemp is more than just a buzzword—it's a genuinely sustainable solution for the future of textiles. It's time we looked beyond cotton and embraced hemp as a serious contender for high-performance, eco-friendly fabrics.
Whether you're a designer, manufacturer, or simply a conscious consumer, hemp offers the strength, comfort, and environmental benefits that our industry—and planet—desperately need.