We are excited to introduce a new series, rolling out once a month spotlighting one of our sustainable fabrics. Since it is the dead of winter and all any of us want to be is cozy and warm, we thought we’d start with our hemp fleece.
WHAT IS IT MADE OUT OF?
55% Hemp / 45% Organic Cotton. Unlike the polyester fleece you are used to seeing, our fleece is jersey knit on one side and soft and fluffy on the other.
WHY WE LOVE IT!
Our hemp fleece is warm, cozy and soft. The jumpsuits made in this fabric are perfect for lounging, or look great paired with booties for a cute, easy outfit. It is washable and easy to care for and since hemp is one of the strongest fibers on the planet, it will last for years to come.
HOW IS IT SUSTAINABLE?
Most fleece materials are polyester, a synthetic fabric. Our hemp fleece is made from 100% natural materials.
Our fleece is fully organic certified by IMO, Control Union, OCIA, NOP or Ecocert, as well as fair trade as certified with principles described by the Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production.
ABOUT THE FIBERS
HEMP
Hemp grows extremely fast in any kind of climate. It does not exhaust the soil, uses little water, and requires no pesticides or herbicides. Dense planting leaves little space for light, hence few chances for weeds to grow.
Its skin is tough and insect resistant, and this is why often hemp is used as a rotation crop. Its fiber and oil can be used in making clothes, papers, building material, food, skin care products and even biofuels. It’s considered by many as the most versatile and sustainable plant on earth.
With high moisture absorbency, high heat conductivity, and excellent abrasion resistance, they can be made into beautiful, comfortable and long lasting clothes. The more you wash them, the softer they get. They age gracefully. Blended with other natural fibers, their applications become almost endless.
ORGANIC COTTON
Organic cotton is an ecologically responsible and green fiber. Unlike conventional cotton, which uses more chemicals than any other crop, it is never genetically modified and does not use any highly polluting agro-chemicals such as those found in pesticides, herbicides and many fertilizers. Integrated soil and pest management techniques—such as crop rotation and introducing natural predators of cotton pests—are practiced in organic cotton cultivation.
All organic cotton growers must have their cotton fiber certified according to governmental organic farming standards, such as those of the National Organic Program of the USDA or the EEC’s Organic Regulation. Each year, both land and crops must be inspected and certified by internationally reputable certifying bodies.
DYES
The dyes used on our fleece are all Procion low impact, fiber reactive dyes. These dyes are nontoxic, safe, and eco friendly. They require only low temperature water processing and only salt and soda ash as auxiliary agents. They yield excellent results, especially on natural fibers, in which the dyed fabrics have vibrant hues and superb colorfastness. Many of our white or off-white “natural” color fabrics have been semi-bleached using hydrogen peroxide instead of harsh chlorine. In addition, we do not use any optic brighteners in our products.
WHERE IS IT SOURCED FROM?
The raw hemp for our fleece is sourced from China and the organic cotton is sourced from Turkey, India and China. All manufacturing of fabric takes place in China and India. And all production of final garments happens here in Michigan. Click here for a behind the scenes of that process.
HOW DO I CARE FOR IT?
Safe to machine wash and dry. When worn it loosens up, which is a natural characteristic of hemp, when dried it will regain its structure.
SHOP OUR HEMP FLEECE SELECTION
