Fun Facts
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The fiber length of hemp, at an incredible 2.5m, is a full 100 times greater than cotton fibers with an average length of 10-50mm.
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Hemp cultivation requires only 1/20th of the water compared to cotton.
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Hemp has a long history as a useful plant: hemp was cultivated in Asia more than 10,000 years ago and has since been used for a variety of purposes, including the production of clothing, paper and ropes.
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Every part of the plant can be processed: the seeds (pressed as oil, hulled or unhulled as a food additive), the fibers (clothing, insulation, paper), the shives (filler, biofuel, building materials), the leaves (essential oils, flavorings or fragrances in, for example, detergents) and the flowers (medicinal applications).
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In 1982, all cultivation of hemp was criminalized in Germany due to concerns about cannabis. It wasn't until 1996 that the cultivation of fiber hemp with a THC content of less than 0.3% became legal again.
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Both the Gutenberg Bible and the American Declaration of Independence were printed on hemp paper.
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And oh dear – moths don't like hemp. ;-) because hemp fibers don't contain any protein that the pests could feed on.
Benefits of hemp
Hemp fiber is renowned for its exceptional robustness and tear resistance . The first jeans worn by gold miners were made of hemp and were virtually indestructible.
Hemp and the environment
The hemp plant is naturally very robust and resistant to insect infestations and plant diseases. Therefore, insecticides or pesticides are usually not needed for its cultivation. The plant also requires little water to grow.
To preserve its environmentally friendly properties, care must be taken with hemp fiber to avoid using chemical methods that artificially soften or bleach it excessively. Chemically untreated hemp fiber is therefore not pure white and cannot be dyed arbitrarily; instead, particular attention must be paid to environmentally friendly dyeing methods and specific colors.
Effect on the skin
Hemp has unique skin-climate properties. Its fibers naturally regulate temperature. In summer, they keep you pleasantly cool – the fabric is wonderfully airy.
Under the microscope, it becomes clear why: The fibers have small air pockets through which the fiber "breathes".
Durability, especially in children's clothing
Hemp is one of the most robust natural fibers available. Clothing made from hemp is known to last forever, even with daily wear and tear.
Tests have shown that hemp fiber is four to seven times stronger than comparably thick cotton threads. It is therefore perfectly suited for children of active, climbing, and romping age.
Washing instructions
Like wool clothing, our hemp/wool blend can be washed by hand and in the washing machine. We recommend machine washing on the wool cycle at a maximum of 30 degrees Celsius using liquid organic wool detergent.
Pure hemp jersey or hemp woven fabric, or hemp-lyocell woven fabric, can also be machine washed. It is important, however, not to use powdered detergent . Powder can get trapped in the air pockets and damage the fabric.
Wool/hemp or hemp lyocell as a fabric blend
Wool/hemp or hemp/lyocell are both fabric blends made from natural fibers.
Both lyocell and wool (if you buy organic wool, which is the only type we offer) are very sustainable fibers. Lyocell is made from wood fibers sourced from sustainably managed forests.
Hemp feels rather coarse at first touch. Lyocell, on the other hand, is as smooth and light as silk. The resulting blend is a fabric that is as durable as woven hemp but feels as smooth as a particularly hard-wearing silk blouse. This fabric is perfect for summer shirts or skirts, as well as light outerwear. Just be sure to use patterns designed for woven fabrics.
In combination with wool, we have a versatile fabric mix that is somewhat warmer than pure hemp and is preferred by many who do not have the patience to wait for pure hemp to become soft and wonderfully wearable (depending on the piece of fabric, this can easily mean 2-3 washes and several days of wear).
Here we have both lightweight jerseys for outerwear and firmer jacquard fabrics in herringbone or braided patterns, which are often used for longer trousers.
https://danischpur.de/collections/wolle-hanf-und-reiner-hanf-1
Sources:
http://www.hemptrade.ca/eguide/background/hemps-environmental-impact
https://www.thcint.com/uploads/1/9/3/7/19371199/2011_ecological_benefits_of_hemp_and_flax.pdf
http://archiv.hanflobby.de/infohanf/textil.html
http://www.hempopedia.com/oekonomischegesichtspunkte/hanfanbauindereu.html
http://cannamoda.de/Hanf-Textilien