Does hemp clothing shrink when washed?
No… as long as you follow the garment’s washing guidelines. For hemp clothing, it is generally advised to wash at 30 degrees or cold wash.
What are the disadvantages of hemp?
- Pure hemp tends to wrinkle more than cotton… but less than linen. Our blend of 55% hemp and 45% cotton is almost the same as a pure cotton garment.
- It’s more expensive. Hemp is a premium fabric with many advantages over its competition, but this does mean that garments are more costly than other fabrics.
Does hemp clothing need ironing?
Yes. If you iron your garment when it’s still slightly damp, ironing is straightforward – a little more effort is required if it is bone dry. Many hemp garments are blended with organic cotton. Where the mix is roughly 50 / 50, you’ll find ironing very similar to ironing the cotton equivalent.
Do hemp clothes smell?
No. Hemp fabric has no natural odour. Its anti-microbial properties mean that it will last longer before smelling of body odours.
How long do hemp clothes last?
Hemp fibres are one of the strongest natural fibres in the world. Some sources say that they are over 4 times stronger than cotton. Clothes made from hemp will last significantly longer than the equivalent garment made with cotton, all things being equal.
Can I tumble dry my hemp clothes?
You should follow the garment’s guidelines, but generally speaking, no. You should line dry your clothes. If you do put them in the tumble dryer, make sure it’s on one of the cooler settings.
Is hemp clothing good when it’s cold?
Yes. The microscopic hemp fibres are hollow, meaning that they are great at insulating you from the cold.
Is hemp clothing good when it’s warm?
Yes. The microscopic hemp fibres are hollow, meaning that they are great at insulating you from the heat. Hemp is also a breathable fabric and naturally wicks moisture away from skin.
Is Hemp clothing rough?
Pure hemp fabric is similar to linen to the touch. Hemp fabrics are often blended with cotton, and this can make them indistinguishable from pure cotton. Either way, hemp fabrics get softer as they’re washed.
Does hemp clothing stretch?
Hemp fibres aren’t stretchy.
When they’re woven into fabric for a shirt or jeans, there will be no stretch.
When hemp is blended with other fibres, it may become stretchy such as hemp socks that have been blended with elastane, or hemp t-shirts or jerseys that have been blended with organic cotton.
Stretch in a material is not just about the material itself, but also depends on the way the fabric is woven. Think about a 100% cotton shirt that has no stretch, but a cotton t-shirt that does.
Is hemp good for making jeans?
Yes. Hemp is stronger than cotton, so it makes a great, long-lasting, denim. And, hemp jeans are better for the environment than there cotton equivelent. Before purchasing, you should make sure that you measure your waist line – most modern jeans have at least an amount of stretch – hemp jeans don’t.
Is hemp resistant to ultra-violet light?
Yes. It will last longer in sunlight than other natural fibres and some manmade fibres. Light hemp clothing will also protect you from UV rays.
Is hemp antibacterial?
Yes. It’s naturally antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal. This means it will last longer between washiness before picking up body odours and it is resistant to developing mould or mildew if stored damp.
Does hemp feel like linen?
100% hemp is similar in feel, texture and look to linen. However, many hemp garments are blended with organic cotton. The Of The Oceans’ shirts are 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton – to the touch, this blend is very similar to 100% cotton.
Why don’t we use hemp rather than cotton?
Hemp has been used for clothing for thousands of years. Unfortunately, its association with cannabis lead to most countries outlawing its growth. Although many countries are now reversing that decision (you can’t get high on hemp!), uptake in hemp clothes has been slow, mainly due to its cost.
Is hemp breathable?
Yes. It’s not only breathable, but it is also good at wicking moisture away from the skin, making it an excellent fabric to wear in hot weather.
Is hemp good for the environment?
Yes. In many ways. This FAQ has covered why hemp is a good material for clothing. Check out our article that asks is hemp the wonder fabric we need? In that article we talk more about hemp’s environmental credentials.
Author’s Note
If hemp hadn’t had a close association with cannabis, it would probably be as common as cotton, perhaps even more so. Whilst there are a few more brands selling hemp clothes, they are still a bit of a rarety. Yet, on many levels, hemp out performs cotton as a fabric used for clothing. From an environmental persepective, it blows cotton out of the water.
Of The Oceans Clothes
At Of The Oceans, we only sell clothes that are made with natural fibres, including a good selection of hemp clothes. All our suppliers are accredited by the Fair Wear foundation. Other environmental credentials are listed with the individual items, allowing our customers to decide whether they meet their sustainable requirements.
If you enjoyed this, please consider signing up to our newsletter. We not only keep our subscribers up to date with the latest blogs and other news, but they also benefit from discounts on our products. And, at Of The Oceans, 5% of the purchase price is donated to a marine conservation charity.
