In many ways, hemp could be considered a miracle fiber. Consider the advantages:
Strong
Clothing made of hemp fiber is lightweight and absorbent, with three times the tensile strength of cotton. People have long valued this strong and long lasting plant: the first hemp plants were spun into fiber more than 10,000 years ago.
Weather Resistant UV and mould-resistant, hemp is excellent for outdoor wear.
Versatile
Hemp can be blended with other fibers for different qualities in the garment. Hemp/silk and hemp/cotton garments are now available for added comfort.
Cost-Effective
Hemp is less expensive to farm because of its minimal growth requirements. Hemp plants grow quickly, producing 5-10 tons of cellulose fibre pulp per acre in four months.
Easy on the Environment
Hemp farming uses very little water (half as much as cotton), does not require the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers, and is a readily renewable resource. Furthermore, nothing is wasted in the hemp production process: seeds are used to make oil and food supplements, while the stalks are used for fiber. Hemp also produces more fiber per acre than trees, and can be renewed two to three times per year. Not only that: industrial hemp plants absorb more carbon dioxide than trees.
During the pandemic, MHIRA team managed to manually process and develop hemp fibres into six types of fabrics and two types of Kenaf including a combination fibre material for MHIRA data collection.