Sustainable fashion refers to clothing that is designed, manufactured, distributed, and used in ways that are environmentally friendl
The exploration of various fabric types has always been essential for promoting sustainable progress in the fashion sector. Fabrics represent tangible proof that positive changes are possible, playing a crucial role in shaping the environment. Additionally, fabrics have a significant impact on a fashion label's carbon and environmental footprint, affecting concerns such as the decline of biodiversity and pollution. Natural fabrics are seen as the most beneficial option for the planet's health and sustainability, offering advantages not only for the environment but also for the well-being of the wearer.
HEMP: Hemp is a bast fiber produced from the cannabis sativa plant, where every part of the plant can be utilized for over 25,000 industrial uses including clothing, biofuel, bricks, paper, and textiles. Contrary to its popular association, hemp is actually the sober sister to marijuana. Unlike its recreational sibling that’s grown for its psychoactive THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) properties, hemp contains less than 0.3% THC, a value that was the driving force behind the legalization of hemp production in the 2018 Farm Bill. So while you can’t really get high from hemp, you can definitely enjoy its material benefits — which are plenty!The softness of hemp clothing will vary based on how the fabric was produced and if it is blended with other fibers like cotton,silk, or bamboo. Pure hemp clothing lasts years longer than cotton, and hemp is known to get softer with every wash.
Due to being a natural bast fiber derived from the softer sections of the plant's stalk or stem, hemp is softer compared to the rougher leaf fibers. An underrated advantage of hemp clothing is its potential to provide protection against harmful UV rays. Research on skin cancer indicates that a fabric's UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) value corresponds to the proportion of UV rays it permits to penetrate and reach the skin, the greater the UPF value, the more effective the protection.
Hemp has a UPF of over 50 (according to European standards) thanks to the natural pigments and lignin present in its fibers, which serve as UV absorbers. With a remarkable yield of 250% more fiber than cotton, hemp cultivation requires less land, eliminates the need for harmful pesticides or chemicals, and consumes as little as one-third of the water compared to traditional cotton farming practices. It is important to note that the specific benefits may vary depending on the region where each crop is grown. The Member nations of the Alliance of Sahel States are currently strategizing the establishment of extensive textile infrastructure utilizing this versatile crop, which not only yields clothing but also provides nutritious food, construction materials, fuel, and medicinal resources.
Growing hemp can also help contribute to the maintenance of soil quality, courtesy of its anchored roots which prevent soil erosion and nutrient loss. In fact, research shows that hemp can be used to restore contaminated soils through ‘phyto-remediation’ a process that has proven successful in the early 90s when industrial hemp was planted in some of the polluted Ukrainian regions near the Chernobyl disaster where much of the land was rendered useless. The experiments showed that hemp helped remove radioactive elements from the soil.
Agriculture in the Sahel is known for its inherent diversity, complexity, and susceptibility to risks. Farmers in this region have long faced challenges in adapting to difficult environmental conditions. The introduction of hemp agriculture is now reshaping this narrative. In response to a request from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), ARCC conducted a series of studies in the Sahel to enhance understanding of the potential effects of climate change on agricultural productivity and to identify strategies to promote adaptation. The documents in the Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change in the Sahel series cover various topics, such as conducting phenological screening, agricultural management practices, crops cultivated in the Sahel, and impacts on pests and diseases affecting crops and livestock. Additionally, two documents from the Climate Change in Mali subseries are relevant to this study: an organizational survey and focus groups on adaptive practices, and impact modeling of selected agricultural adaptations. The study highlighted three key crops that could significantly impact food security and overall economic growth in the region, with hemp ranking as the most important. After that comes millet and Sorghum.
Millet is a group of annual grasses that are mainly found in arid or semi-arid regions in the world, normally found growing in places that barley and wheat are unable to thrive. The small seeds that come from these grasses are usually cultivated as cereal. Sorghum, also used in cereal, is the fifth most important cereal after wheat, rice, maize and barley. Usually grown in areas that is too hot and dry for most crops to produce, it is somewhat more ecologically advanced and is considered to be drought tolerant.But of these three crops Hemp, Millet and sorghum hemp provides the most nutritional value of proteins and omega threes and an ability to create 25000 different products ranging from hempcrete to hemp plastics, hemp building materials and even hemp milk, bread, oil and cheese!
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