Advice
A FLEXIBLE FRIEND
In the second of his focus on materials, Clive Allcott takes a look at the possibilities for hemp cultivated for thousands of years and on almost every continent. It is a remarkable plant offering an almost limitless selection of applications including food, building material, cosmetics and of course fabrics. The fibre produced from pure hemp is similar to linen in texture. It can also be blended with other natural fibres to create fabrics with the durability of hemp and the softness of cotton.
So, what makes hemp so amazing?
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emp is a type of ‘bast fibre’ which means it’s one of a number of natural fibres derived from the stems of plants such as flax, jute and the stinging nettle. The fabric it produces has various natural advantages such as keeping you warm in winter, cool in summer and even protecting you from UV rays. Hemp actually has a very long history of being used as a fibre. In fact, it has been
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Happy selling, Clive (The Bag and Clothing Guru).
Well, it’s easy to grow and can be planted almost anywhere in the world as it requires little water or resources to grow. A densely growing plant, hemp literally chokes out any competing plants meaning harsh chemical herbicides are not necessary for weed control. Hemp also naturally reduces pests, so no pesticides are usually needed. It is also great for the surrounding soil, replenishing the nutrients from the ground in which it
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grows. Amazingly this return of nutrients back into the soil can be as high as 60-70%. However, it is important to be aware that hemp does not always mean organic as many farmers still use environmentally damaging fertiliser to grow it. So, when going for hemp, make sure it’s organic and thoroughly study the supporting credentials.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021
MOTION BAG
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