Hemp fiber has been used since long before we were a handful of colonies, and actually, without it Columbus wouldn't have had any rope for his ships' rigging. For obvious reasons, the longstanding U.S. campaign to demonize and criminalize hemp (starting in earnest with the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937) has taken the plant fiber out of consideration for uses that it previously performed admirably, and better than its wood, cotton, and wool based counterparts. The first paper was made exclusively from hemp, the Declaration of Independence was printed on hemp paper, and canvas was originally a hemp product!

Besides being extremely versatile, hemp is sustainable and better for the environment for several reasons. First, you can harvest more of it per acre, more than twice the yields of cotton. Second, hemp requires far less fertilizer and water, and can be grown without the use of pesticides. Third, its long roots prevent erosion and replenish the soil at the end of a crop rotation.

As a clothing fiber hemp is naturally water resistant, super absorbent, mold resistant, and much stronger than cotton. We've handled a pure hemp suit and must say it felt and moved a lot like linen. There is no good reason for keeping hemp down. While it hasn't received the welcome that organic cotton and bamboo have, the benefits and potential of hemp arguably surpasses both of those established green options.