Sometimes you just want useful gear that looks good in the outdoors. This week, Lifestyle Outdoor looks at a natural, eco-friendly material: hemp.
Hemp is on the rise. With its softness, durability, and ability to grow like crazy, it makes for a great choice for apparel manufacturing.
While hemp and marijuana derive from a similar plant, certain states and countries have legalized or decriminalized industrial hemp production in recent years. This has led to more hemp clothing on the market.
For those new to hemp, imagine a shirt stronger than cotton that feels softer. It’s also breathable, quick to dry, and odor resistant.
And to produce, hemp requires much less water than other fabrics. And it’s organic, so it will decompose without resulting in microplastics when it breaks down. Talk about a miracle fiber!
Check out these seven picks for people that appreciate good looks and eco-savviness at the same time.
The top image is Jungmaven apparel; photo by Joel Caldwell.
6 Hemp Shirts (and 1 Tote Bag)
Fisher + Baker Bastille Shirt
Fisher + Baker strives to make timeless, purposeful, and functional apparel. The Bastille shirt aligns with those values thanks to its classy looks with horn buttons, blend of 55 percent hemp and 45 percent organic cotton, and a feel that the brand says “gets softer every time you wear it.”
Toad&Co Fyrefly Jacket
Canvas and hemp join forces in the Fyrefly Jacket. This lightweight layering option is both sturdy and feels awesome thanks to the fabric blend. Around the waist is an internal drawcord to cinch up the middle depending on your preference.
Jungmaven Baja Tee
This T-shirt might appear simple at first glance, but its hemp and cotton blend is a heavier weight than normal cotton tees. And the hemp fibers Jungmaven used patina after use and wear, to create a unique T-shirt for the wearer.
United By Blue Elkridge Button Down
Woodsy prints adorn the Elkridge Button Down, giving it a touch of personality. Prints aside, the Elkridge is made with organic cotton and hemp with stretch built in. And like all United By Blue products, for every product sold the brand removes one pound of trash from outdoor spaces.
Patagonia Farrier’s Shirt – Men’s & Women’s
From Patagonia’s workwear line is the Farrier’s shirt, made with polyester, a suede finish, and 9 ounces of hemp. It’s built to withstand hard work and has rugged looks to match.
prAna Cinch Tote
prAna makes a lot of hemp items, and the Cinch Tote stands out as an option. The Cinch Tote uses a fun, striped pattern on the outside and has a removable interior bag.
Outerknown Sur Sweatshirt
Kelly Slater’s apparel brand, Outerknown, strives to use sustainable fibers in its products. The Sur French Terry Collection adds to the brand’s mantra with a blend of hemp and organic cotton. And Outerknown doesn’t waste water or use pesticides in its production.
