Is Hemp Fabric Eco-Friendly
Let’s clear up one thing right from the start: hemp and marijuana are not the same thing. True, they are both the same species of plant, but that does not mean that they have the same uses or possess the same qualities.
Nevertheless, this familial connection has given hemp an heir of controversy that is just not warranted. There are many pros and cons to the development and distribution of hemp fabric, a naturally-occurring fiber that has become guilty by association with its cannabis-ian cousin.
Hemp In The Textile Industry
In earlier times cannabis sativa has mainly been bred for two major purposes. One reason for its cultivation was to obtain high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the other psychoactive chemical called cannabinoids. The second reason behind cultivation was to obtain strong fibers while purposely reducing levels of psychoactive cannabinoids.
The stalks of hemp plants consists of two layers, the inner layer has a woody pith whereas the outer one is used for textile purposes.
Hemp clothing
The oldest known examples of woven material are made from hemp. Various items of clothing and fabric, ranging from sandals and ritual robes to bandages and carpets, have been found on archaeological digs. First, the long, strong plant fibres were twisted into simple twine; in turn, strands of twine were plaited together to make stronger ropes.
Cross-weaving allowed ropes to be made into nets for fishing and hunting. As weaving technology developed, finer and finer meshes became possible, until the net finally developed into true woven cloth.
