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To clear things up, we can all agree that hemp clothes are no longer for crusty old hippies with hacky sacks. I mean, we love those crusty old hippies, but we're all in agreement that hemp fashion has evolved, right? These days, hemp is the epitome of cool and contemporary for sustainability-minded sartorialists. You'll find hemp textiles comfortably lounging at the intersection between conscientious and covetable. You only need to search for 'hemp clothing,' and a plethora of trendy boutiques are at your fingertips. The hemp textile revival is in full swing, and we are here for it.
Let's have a quick reminder about why our ancestors used hemp textiles worldwide for millennia before it was deemed an illegal substance. Not only is hemp fabric more absorbent and durable than cotton, but it's also 100% biodegradable. That's great news for the planet, as the textile industry is the world's second-largest polluter after oil. Over 85% of all textiles go to the dump each year, not to mention the 63% of fabrics made from petrochemicals, like nylon and polyester, which send thousands of microplastic fabrics into the ocean.
When the United States legalized hemp with the 2018 Farm Bill's passing, the industry exploded and is predicted to be worth $13.03 billion by 2026. Now, some of the world's biggest streetwear brands, Levi's and Nike, are getting into the groove of hemp clothing.
Levi Strauss & Co.
Did you know that it takes approximately 20,000 liters of water to manufacture a single pair of jeans? In an attempt to tackle the issues surrounding denim manufacturing, Levi Stauss & Co., the undisputed champion of the jean world, has introduced various initiatives like recycled denim and using Water<Less® technologies, and launched a sustainability-focused collection called Wellthread.
In 2019, Levi's joined the hemp game with a collab between Wellthread and surf legend Kelly Slater's Outerknown label. The resulting collection featured garments made from a blend of 69% cotton and 31% hemp, using a revolutionary new product called 'cottonized hemp' that looks and feels like traditional cotton yarn.
"Our intention is to take this to the core of the line, to blend it into the line, to make this a part of the Levi's portfolio," Paul Dillinger, head of global product innovation for Levi's, said in an interview with Business Insider.
Nike
Sportwear giant Nike collaborated with British retailer Size? to create a sneaker made from hemp in August 2020. According to Size?, the Nike Air Zoom Type takes inspiration from two streetwear capitals, Tokyo and London, combining Japanese minimalism with pops of color. The sneakers upper is made from hemp for a raw, natural vibe.
The Air Zoom Type isn't Nike's only foray into hemp sneakers. Towards the end of 2020, it released the Nike Air Force 1 Low Stüssy Fossil Stone, a collaboration with Stüssy, based on the iconic Air Force 1 silhouette.
So, hemp fabric is part of our history, and now, thanks to both boutique and giant brands getting involved, hemp fashion will cement itself in our future, with the development of more applications for this fabulous fabric.