Hemp - one of the oldest and most diverse cultivated plants of our time. Thousands of years ago, hemp was an important source of fiber, food and medicine. As an important supplier of raw materials, it is an integral part of advanced civilizations.
The possible applications ranged from the production of textiles such as uniforms, sailors' clothing, sailcloths, to paints, food, paper, building materials, ropes, medicines, lubricants and lamp oil.
The import of cheaper natural fibers such as jute, sisal and cotton led to the decline of industrial hemp cultivation in the 1930s. The development of the cotton machine made a further contribution, as did the invention of the chemical pulping of wood to obtain pulp for paper production.
Characteristics
Industrial hemp fibers are about three times as durable as cotton, unusually elastic, tear-resistant and pleasant on the skin due to the smooth fiber surface. Due to air pockets in the fiber, hemp fabric feels cool in the summer but warm in the winter. Hemp fibers also have a bacteria-inhibiting effect. As a textile fiber, hemp is superior to other fibers, especially in the areas of moisture transport and moisture management.
The hemp fiber has excellent wearing physiology. The hemp fiber is hydrophilic, which means it absorbs moisture quickly but releases it slowly. |
All the benefits of hemp fiber at a glance
- optimal climate regulation
- high moisture absorption and release
- high breathability
- inhibits bacterial growth
- natural alternative for allergy sufferers
- very durable and tear-resistant
Hemp & Environment
With growing environmental awareness, the hemp plant is also becoming more important again. The hemp plant grows almost anywhere with little effort, is completely usable and needs no pesticides and hardly any fertilizer. Hemp fibers show very good resistance to wear, so the fibers can often be recycled.
Not all hemp is the same | Industrial hemp vs. medical hemp
Cannabis sativa, also known as industrial hemp, industrial hemp or fiber hemp, cannot be compared with medical hemp. Industrial hemp has almost no consciousness-influencing active ingredients (THC < 0.2%), which are basically only present in the flowers. In the case of industrial hemp, only the leaves and seeds are used, or the stems/stalks for fiber production.
Did you know that wars were fought in the Roman Empire over hemp?
Columbus brought hemp to America?
the American Declaration of Independence is written on hemp paper?
Taxes could be paid with hemp seeds until the 19th century?
Gutenberg printed his first Bible on hemp paper in 1944?
Levi Strauss made his first jeans from hemp fibers because of their durability?
Henry Ford built a “hemp mobile” in 1941 that was powered by hemp?
Find out more about our SELECT HEMP ACTIVE collection here!