Why hemp
Why hemp: China wore it long before cotton, and it still makes tough, breathable cloth.
Three things to know about hemp
The cloth of ordinary people
Before cotton spread in the Yuan and Ming dynasties, most people wore hemp and ramie. Silk was for the rich.
Same plant, different crop
Textile hemp is Cannabis sativa grown for long stem fiber, with very little THC. The modern name hanma sets it apart from the drug.
It breaks in
Those long fibers start out stiff and relax with every wash. The cloth takes years of hard wear.
In old China, buyi, plain cloth, meant a commoner.
Good to know
Does hemp clothing get you high?
No. Hemp fabric is made from stem fiber and has no drug effect. Textile varieties are bred to be very low in THC.
Is hemp fabric the same as linen?
No. Hemp comes from Cannabis sativa and linen comes from flax. Both are stem fibers and feel alike. Hemp is usually a bit coarser and stronger.
Is hemp fabric itchy?
New coarse hemp can feel rough. It softens with washing and wear, and fine modern weaves feel close to washed linen.
