The history of hemp clothing
Hemp textiles have a long tradition. As early as the 15th century, Christopher Columbus had the sails of his ship made from hemp fibers. Levi Strauss produced his first jeans in the middle of the 19th century, also from hemp. Intended mainly as work pants for gold panners in North America, pants made of hemp textiles were ideal for withstanding constant moisture without wearing out.
Hemp, along with flax, was the most widespread and common textile fiber in the world until the end of the 19th century. However, with the invention of the cotton machine, which made cotton cheap to produce, it was largely displaced.
In the 21st century, hemp clothing is experiencing a resurgence and is increasingly becoming an alternative to conventional textiles made of cotton or polyester. The extraction of fibers from the stalks of the hemp plant plays an essential role in the cultivation of hemp.
Learn more about the cultivation of the hemp plant for the production of hemp fiber here...