Let's Talk Hemp

Tag: fashion

  • Hemp’s Historical Fabulous Fashion Journey

    Hemp’s Historical Fabulous Fashion Journey

    CAPTION:  Hemp-based clothing brand Vital Hemp was featured on the runway at the Style & Sustainability Fashion Show in Santa Monica, CA, in December 2019, presented by the City of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment, Lexus Santa Monica, and Sustainable Works.

    By Heather Collins

    Cotton, silk, satin, and lace might be up against some strong competition in the next few years thanks to the growing use of sustainably produced hemp in textiles and fashion. Hemp, which is no stranger to the textile world, has actually been cultivated globally for centuries for fabric. In fact, according to the blog My Hemp Craft, hemp was a familiar and natural material used for rope during ancient Egyptian times and was also used as cloth for sails on ships throughout history, as it could weather storms crossing the seas (indeed, the word “canvas,” for the heavy cloth used in sail making, is derived from the word cannabis.)

    Additionally, My Hemp Craft points out that while material evidence of hemp used in ancient times dates back only 9,000 years, pottery and metal objects with hemp rope-like impressions have been found at archaeological sites dating back as far as 26,000 BC. These findings suggest that our Paleolithic ancestors made use of the fibers of this versatile plant.

    Sturdy and durable, hemp gained popularity in the United States when Presidents Washington and Jefferson both proudly grew hemp on their plantations. According to the blog THCINT.com/Hempology, it was once mandated that Americans were to grow hemp during the Colonial Era.

    The hemp plant, when grown as a clothing material, grows significantly taller than other cannabis varieties, and it has noticeably longer fibers. The long fibers are what give hemp its strength when made into rope, clothing, bedding, or upholstery. Hemp fiber has been successfully made into shirts, handbags, shoes – you name it. It’s a strong cloth that is both appealing from an environmental and design standpoint, and hemp’s benefits outweigh other materials, such as cotton and polyester.

    Research published by SEI indicates that cotton needs about 50% more water per season than hemp, which can grow with little irrigation. More than 70% of the global cotton harvest comes from irrigated land, which poses a risk for groundwater contamination. Hemp takes very little water and is strong enough to grow in fields without depleting natural resources.

    According to Hempology, 42 hemp mills were built in the United States in 1941, primarily in the Midwest. Hemp was a popular commodity, and farmers were drawn to its appeal as a cash crop. Also, there was a sincere sense of patriotism by growing domestic plants versus buying hemp from abroad. Once the mills started production, hemp was revered as an innovative and cutting edge product. However, in 1944 the government shut down the hemp mills, citing lack of needs due to “war purposes.” Essentially, those farmers who were growing about a million acres of hemp suffered financial despair, as they were expecting to reap a significant profit thanks to hemp’s bounty. Ultimately, the farmers had nowhere to turn to manufacture their crops due to the government’s orders to shut down.

    Hemp in Everyday Fashion

    Today, Patagonia, Inc. and popular fashion brands are taking note of the benefits of hemp, as it is more absorbent, and easy to blend with other fibers in clothing. In fact, Patagonia created a mini-documentary highlighting the history of hemp and its potential power to create soft, light, and breathable fabric. Thanks to the passage of the U.S. Farm Bill in 2018, eco-fashion brands realize the regenerative agricultural potential hemp has in creating more jobs domestically and sourcing U.S.-grown hemp for their clothing lines.

    Iconic U.S.-based blue jeans brand Levi Strauss has been experimenting with hemp fabric by combining it into its cotton jeans for several years and discussed its plans with the Business Insider. Product innovation teams at Levi’s indicate that they have been using hemp in blue jeans, but they still need time to truly ‘cottonize’ it and make it soft and appealing for everyone. With sustainability at its core, Levi’s developers acknowledge this process will take time to make hemp the softest, most durable textile that provides a good fit and a lasting pair of jeans.

    Featured recently at a sustainable fashion runway show in Santa Monica, CA, Vital Hemp founder Ron Alcalay has long expounded the benefits of hemp fashion for everyday living. “Hemp’s come a long way and so has Vital Hemp,” he says on his website. “We intend to reintroduce people to the superior qualities of hemp by producing the most comfortable, healthy and sustainable hemp clothes possible. As vital members of the sustainable business community, we aspire to be a part of the groundswell…re-legalizing the cultivation of industrial hemp in the U.S.A. so that we can all benefit from the myriad uses of this amazing plant—for clothing, food, paper, fuel, and so much more.”

    Even footwear is exploring the benefits of hemp with shoe designers ready to go the extra mile by utilizing hemp as its main fabric. Take it from year-old company DopeKicks, the first waterproof hemp tennis shoe. They believe their sustainable footwear is not only fashion-forward but also “the coolest, eco-friendly, super resistant and waterproof shoes accessible to everyone.”

    After a long day, Jungmaven wants everyone to lay down in comfort to the soft, appealing cloud-like feel of hemp sheets, pillows, and blankets every night. The bedding brand uses sustainable hemp material to create luxurious products for a healthier future for the planet.

    Interested in learning more about hemp’s journey into fashion? Be sure to join in on the fun for a hemp-centric Fashion Show at 7th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo, March 26-28, 2020, at the National Western Complex in Denver. Tickets are available at https://nocohempexpo.com/.

    PHOTO: Compass Natural (photo of Vital Hemp fashion models on stage)

    \# # #

    Heather Collins is a seasoned Public Relations professional who works closely with Compass Natural Marketing on lifestyle and hemp brands. Additionally, Collins has operated h | c marketing and communications, an independent project-based firm that provides strategic insight to clients within the natural products industry, including national trade associations plus, renowned leading health and wellness experts.

    News Briefs

    SD Governor Noem Drops Plans to Veto Hemp
    by Associated Press


    Porsche 718 Cayman T

    Porsche Sources Hemp for Composite Car Parts
    by Fox News

    Fresh Thyme Farmers Market Expands CBD Product Offerings
    by New Hope Network

    Post

    Beauty Retailer Sephora Announces Largest CBD Partnership Yet
    by The Fresh Toast

    Headline News

    Epidiolex Maker Reports $309 Million in Sales for 2019
    by GW Pharmaceuticals

    Oregon State University Wins $2.5 Million in Federal Funds for Global Hemp Information Center
    by The Corvalis Gazette-Times

    CBD Producer Mile High Labs Lays Off 20 Employees Months After Expansion
    by The Denver Post

    High Anxiety: Proposed U.S. Hemp Rules Worry Industry
    by Associated Press

    USDA Approves Three Tribal and Three State Hemp Plans, to Date
    by USDA

    Texas Rules for Selling Hemp Are Up in the Air
    by News4 San Antonio

    Hemp Expos Growing in Denver this Spring
    by Westword

    Hemp Processing Plant Opening in Du Quoin, IL
    by The Herald & Review

    Virginia Tobacco Commission Approves $250K Grant for Hemp Processing Plant
    by The Roanoke Times

    Texas Hemp Transport Case Likely to End Up in Lawsuit
    by Land Line

    Food, Beverage & Supplements

    NFL Super Bowl Champ Terrell Davis Launches CBD Sport Drink
    by Health MJ

    House Bill Would Allow Marketing of Hemp-derived CBD in Dietary Supplements
    by DRGNews

    Washington State Lawmaker Proposes Allowing CBD in Food
    by The East Oregonian

    CBD Maker Cornbread Hemp Receives USDA Organic Certification
    by WDRB, Louisville, KY

    Wisconsin Family Profits from Making and Selling CBD Products
    by Associated Press

    Outpost Natural Foods Lists CBD-Infused Beverages Among 2020 Grocery Trends
    by Spectrum News

    Fashion, Fiber, and Construction

    Williams Sonoma’s West Elm Store Stakes Out Leadership Position in Hemp Bedding
    by Home Textiles Today

    Tiny Hemp House Building Workshop Set for March 7-13, 2020, Terrell, TX
    by Tiny Hemp Houses

    “Surprisingly Chic” Solar-power Farmhouse Makes Use of Hemp Throughout
    by Curbed

    Hype Builds for Industrial Hemp “Wood”
    by Woodworking Network

    Farming and Agriculture

    New Field Test Can Distinguish Between Legal Hemp and Marijuana
    by Wink News, Fort Meyers, FL

    Upcoming Colorado Workshops Helps Hemp Farmers Craft Business Plans
    by Ag Journal

    Growing Hemp: Farmers Convert to Cannabis
    by Acres U.S.A.

    Oregon Hemp Farm Suing No-Show Processors for $11 Million
    by Hemp Industry Daily

    Garden State: Officials Want New Jersey to Become Center of Hemp Farming
    by NJ Spotlight

    Montana Hemp Growers Co-op Pushes Forward
    by The Havre Daily News

    International News

    Malaysian Hemp Research Association Sees Fiber as First Opportunity
    by HempToday

    Channel Islands Leading Progressive European Hemp Regulations
    by New Frontier Data

    Earth-friendly “Cannabric” Could Transform Latin American Eco-Architecture
    by Be Latina

    Baltic CBD Promotes Hemp Industry in Lithuania
    by Health Europa

    Hemp Trend Growing in Oceania, Asian-Pacific Region
    by Food Navigator-Asia

  • Sold Out!: 2019 NoCo Hemp Expo Expected to Draw Capacity Crowd

    Sold Out!: 2019 NoCo Hemp Expo Expected to Draw Capacity Crowd

    Sold Out!: 2019 NoCo Hemp Expo Expected to Draw Capacity Crowd of Hemp Industry Professionals to Denver

    Featuring a special address from Colorado Governor Jared Polis, an Investor Forum, Business Conference, Farm Symposium, Exhibit Hall and an Impressive Lineup of Workshops and Education, the 6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo is bringing a capacity crowd from throughout the U.S. and over 20 countries to Denver for its sold-out show.

    DENVER, Colorado (March 28, 2019) – Hemp growers, producers, manufacturers, retailers, investors and others will be descending this week in Denver to convene at the Crowne Plaza DIA Convention Center on March 28-30 for the 6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo. And while tickets are still available for certain events, NoCo6 is nearly sold out.

    What began in 2014 as a modest meeting of intrepid Fort Collins-based hemp entrepreneurs has grown into the world’s largest gathering of hemp industry professionals under one roof. Approximately 10,000 visitors are expected from throughout the U.S., as well as over 20 countries.

    “We are very excited to welcome visitors from all over the world to this year’s NoCo Hemp Expo,” said Elizabeth (Elizzy) Knight, co-founder of Colorado Hemp Company/We Are for Better Alternatives (WAFBA), producer of NoCo Hemp Expo. “What our small team has created, along with the help of all our supporting exhibitors, sponsors, speakers and other partners, has never been done before. Together, from the ground up, we have created a world-class convention and conference that celebrates all things hemp – from botanicals and CBD to bioplastics and building materials – and that showcases Colorado as a center of the hemp marketplace.”

    Hemp producers are feeling bullish in 2019, since the passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, better known as the Farm Bill, which legalized the commercial cultivation and sale of industrial hemp, defined as containing less than 0.3% THC. According to Hemp Business Journal’s new report, The Global State of Hemp: 2019 Industry Outlook, U.S. sales of hemp products – from full-spectrum hemp extract and CBD products to hemp foods, textiles, building materials and more – estimated at $1 billion in 2018, are projected to grow 27% annually to reach $2.6 billion by 2022. Global hemp retail sales totaled $3.7 billion in 2018 and are projected to grow to $5.7 billion by 2020.

    NoCo Hemp Expo Program Highlights

    Featured speakers for this year’s NoCo Hemp Expo include Colorado Governor and hemp advocate Jared Polis; Native American tribal leader turned hemp farmer Winona LaDuke; David Bronner, 5th generation CEO of legendary soap maker Dr. Bronner’s; renowned market researcher Dr. Michelle Barry; regenerative agriculture and soil expert Ray Archuleta; hemp expert and author Doug Fine; hemp entrepreneurs Dani Billings of Nature’s Root and Janel Ralph of Palmetto Harmony; and other leaders breaking new ground in the industrial hemp market. For a complete list of speakers, visit here and for a full program schedule, visit here.

    Also, NoCo6 has produced a digital and print magazine/show program, Let’s Talk Hemp, for the first time in partnership with Honeysuckle Magazine, which can be viewed

    Other NoCo6 event highlights include:

    Hemp Industry Daily Investor Forum, Thursday, March 28 – Tickets Are Still Available

    Legal updates and insights; investment trends and deal flow; opportunities and investments; networking; luncheon and more. Visit here for info.

    Let’s Talk Hemp Business Conference, Friday, March 29 – Sold Out!

    Vertical integration; policy and regulation; compliance and certification; processing and manufacturing; market research; the global business of hemp. Visit here for info.

    Let’s Talk Hemp Farm Symposium, Saturday, March 30 – Sold Out!

    Regenerative farming; soil health; genetics; new technology and equipment; regulations and compliance. Visit here for info.

    Expo Hall, Friday/Saturday, March 29-30, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm – Tickets Are Still Available

    With more than 225 exhibitors, NoCo6’s Expo Hall is open to B2B visitors on March 29 and March 30. The Expo Hall is open to consumers and the public on March 30. Features include the Bish Equipment Zone, HempToday International Alley, Science & Tech Spotlight, Adept Payments Workshop and Education Stage, EnviroTextiles Fashion Parade, Blu Nahulu Art Zone and more. Visit here for info.

    NoCo After Party, Saturday, March 30, 8:00 pm – Midnight – Tickets Are Still Available

    Hang with friends at the Hemp Renaissance Ball After Party on Saturday, March 30, 8:00 pm – midnight at the Renaissance Hotel – Denver Stapleton. Buy tickets here.

    Press Conference, Friday, March 29, 9:15 am – 9:45 am

    For qualified and registered media attendees, NoCo Hemp Expo will host a press conference on Friday, March 29, 2019, onsite at the Crowne Plaza DIA Convention Center at 9:15 – 9:45 am, before the conference and exhibition hall opens. To qualify for a Press Pass, contact here.

    To purchase tickets for all remaining available events, visit www.NoCoHempExpo.com.

    Thank You to Our Sponsors

    GenCanna™ is the Presenting Sponsor of NoCo6.

    Business Conference Sponsors include: Elixinol, New Hope Network, Benmar Extractions, Hoban Law Group, Lilu’s Garden, McAllister Garfield P.C., Frank Robison Law Group, and Steep Fuze Coffee.

    Farm Symposium Sponsors include; Bluhen Botanicals, Bish Enterprises, Colorado Breeders Depot, Front Range Biosciences, Hempsac, New West Genetics, ProVerde Labs and Rad Extracts. Meet all of our Sponsor Partners here: https://nocohempexpo.com/sponsors/.

    About the NoCo Hemp Expo

    The 6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo is produced by the Colorado Hemp Company, a division of WAFBA LLC (We Are For Better Alternatives), based in Loveland, CO. WAFBA also is the producer of the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo and founder of TreeFreeHemp paper and printing services. Areas of focus include product and brand development, event production, consulting and advocacy. NoCo6 provides support to nonprofit organizations including Bee Heroic; the Jack Herer Foundation; and Hemp History Week, celebrating its 10th anniversary in June 2019. Learn more at NocoHempExpo.com, or visit us on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, #NoCo6. 

  • 2nd Annual SLV Hemp Symposium Returns to Adams State University

    2nd Annual SLV Hemp Symposium Returns to Adams State University

    Bringing hemp education, economics, and environmental information to Alamosa Colorado and the San Luis Valley.

    Education is Power! Come network and learn from like-minded individuals in the hemp industry.

    As the hemp industry further demonstrates its potential to create new job markets, revolutionize our economy, and prove to be both nutritionally and environmentally beneficial, Colorado universities are realizing the need to incorporate hemp into higher education.

    The Second Annual San Luis Valley (SLV) Hemp Symposium will take place on Friday, November 10, on the (ASU) campus in Alamosa, Colorado. This year’s symposium, taking place in the Student Union building, is presented by International Hemp Solutions and features Let’s Talk Hemp, an all-day speaker series and exhibitor expo. The symposium covers a wide range of hemp topics including legislation and regulation, best farming practices, technology, hemp foods & nutrition, marketing your hemp business in today’s environment, and more. Panel members include industry experts and entrepreneurs such as, Tim Gordon from COHIA (Colorado Hemp Industries Association), Tom Dermody from Industrial Hemp Research Foundation, Alan Parsons from Power Zone, Morris Beegle of NoCo Hemp Expo, Bob Hoban from Hoban Law Group, Terry Moran from the Colorado Department of Agriculture, and Ryan Loflin, the first US farmer in 50+ years to successfully plant, grow, and harvest a commercial scale hemp crop in 2013 before it was federally allowed via the 2014 Farm Bill.

    Symposium host, ASU, illustrates the importance of having education and research grow simultaneously with infrastructure. Having launched their Industrial Hemp Initiative this July, ASU aims to create an SLV Viable Hemp Seed Program and to develop a large-scale, hemp-based economy in the San Luis Valley. The initiative focuses on what ASU President, Beverlee J. McClure, calls the four E’s: Economy, Environment, Education, and Entrepreneurship.

    Tickets are an affordable $10 for the Let’s Talk Hemp speaker series and free to walk through the mini-expo featuring 15-20 hemp based companies and organizations. Tickets are easily purchased on-line via the SLV Hemp Symposium TICKET SALES webpage.

    For more information visit the HempEvents.org website. Come join the movement while becoming educated by industry leaders.

  • 4th Annual Hemp Harvest Party!

    4th Annual Hemp Harvest Party!

    After 4 years the US hemp industry is finally starting to lose its baby-fat… Look how many more farmers and how many more acres of hemp were grown in Colorado and across the U.S. in just a single year!

    At the 4th Annual Hemp Harvest Party, on Saturday, October 14th you can experience the living U.S. hemp movement in action, presented by Lilu’s Garden.

    Join industry leaders CoHempCo and Colorado Hemp Project as they host at the Oak Room at Oskar Blues Brewery in Longmont, CO, from 8pm-midnight to celebrate “an industry of trail blazers and leaders who have worked hard to accelerate the progress made during this year’s planting, growing and harvesting season.”

    Growers, processors, distributors, and even users are all pioneers in the hemp movement. Enjoy live entertainment with big screen hemp movies, network with hemp enthusiasts, and satisfy in amazing Oskar Blues beer flavors, hemp mulled wines, whiskey and vodka. Grab a special hemp cappuccino or latte from SteepFuze, and savor tasty hemp baklava desserts from Satya Creative.

    Meet Chef Kent of Z-Catering who will be creating special hemp-harvested goodies for purchase, featuring “Hemp Rocks” a German-style krautburger made with farm-to-fork fresh veggies and meats, spiced with a hemp-infusion, and topped with Colorado Hemp Company’s Hemp Green Chili. (Vegan and GF Options)

    The hemp industry itself is gaining weight quickly with more consistent planting of stable genetics; its firming-up muscle from another season of harvesting and processing; and more and more knowledge and experiences are gained and shared each day.

    The Oak Room is a wonderfully-warm event space with lots of tall solid tables, leather cushion booths, and high brewery ceilings. Purchase tickets today as this event is always a lot of fun and generally sells out!

    Right now, we are all pioneers in the movement. We are all leaders in our own individual hemp projects. We all have something to offer.

    Come celebrate and encourage each other as equals in the larger hemp community. For right now, the success of the community depends not on just one person, but on the endurance of all its members.

    Thomas Ivory, Jr.

  • Shop Eco-Conscious Fashion at NoCo Hemp Expo 4

    Shop Eco-Conscious Fashion at NoCo Hemp Expo 4

    Don’t let all the other exciting and innovative uses for hemp at NoCo Hemp Expo 4 distract you. Even though hemp textiles and fashion have been around for a long time (millennia in fact!), wearing your hemp is still an excellent way to support the industry while enjoying a superior product over cotton.

    To highlight the importance of hemp fashion and introduce consumers to some of the many innovative companies making high quality hemp clothing and other goods, NoCo 4 has created a Fashion Alley where you can pick out the latest in hemp gear. If you follow the “green carpet” down to the interactive green screen you can vogue it up and get your picture taken in your new hemp gear thanks to the Digital Workshop Center.

    While cotton has been the undisputed textile king for the past several hundred years (for sometimes controversial reasons), the challenges of growing and processing cotton have taken a toll on the environment and have made alternative fabrics an urgent need for our planet.

    Cotton uses 50% more water to grow as hemp (and 4 times as much once production is factored in!) which is leading to water scarcity and even desertification in some places where cotton is grown.
    Hemp plants can be grown very close together which means a greater yield in addition to eliminating the need for herbicides due to the inability of weeds to compete with such a densely grown crop.
    Cotton needs twice as much land to produce the same amount of fiber as hemp and accounts for 25% of all pesticide use worldwide.

    And this just scratches the surface! Hemp is also much more durable than cotton and just as versatile, which means longer lasting clothes. These facts alone make hemp a better choice for the eco conscious consumer looking to break free from the low-quality fast fashion culture of today.

    Furthermore, hemp clothing is great for the whole family. Kristen Kunau, co-owner of Freida Farms and avid hemp consumer, says, “I love that I feel good when my family wears hemp because it doesn’t destroy the earth, it lasts forever, and when it’s worn in it gets really soft and comfy.”

    While you may not find much in the way of hemp clothing at your local mall just yet, a quick internet search will lead you to a vast array of hemp clothing options. Many makers are selling their wares via company websites and Etsy, such as some of the retailers that will be at the NoCo Hemp Expo like Satori Movement, Hemptique, Recreator, and many others.

    Fashion Alley is sponsored by Hempy’s and EnviroTextiles. Hempy’s sells 100% hemp products that are 100% made in America. They offer hemp t-shirts, hats, wallets, craft supplies, and even jeans! One of their core values is long-term sustainability in all aspects of what they do and they have a total commitment to environmental consciousness and workforce responsibility.

    EnviroTextiles is a pioneer in sustainable textiles, specializing in hemp and other natural fibers. They are industry leaders in the effort to improve corporate responsibility and transparency in manufacturing processes and labeling. They currently provide wholesale hemp fabric and finished promotional products to over 65 countries.

    These companies are on the forefront of the growing hemp clothing market. Buying hemp textiles and fashion is a great way to make an ecological choice (and look great too!). Be sure to visit the Fashion Alley at this years NoCo Hemp Expo to see the cutting edge styles and pick up a few essentials to round out your wardrobe.

    Laurie Hanselmann is a writer, nonprofit management guru, and lover of the natural world. She enjoys exploring how to find more meaning and connection in her life as a ‘Type B’ person through self improvement and productivity hacks. You can find her at persistentlybetter.com.

  • NoCo Hemp Village at Arise Festival promotes “thriveability”

    NoCo Hemp Village at Arise Festival promotes “thriveability”

    One of the fastest growing next-gen Festivals in the country, Arise is not only about Music. Programming includes workshops with thought leaders,environmental activists, and even planting a tree for each ticket sold. The addition of the NoCo Hemp Village this year brings with it the potential of bio-degradable plastics, tree-free paper and life changing medicines. The Hemp Industry in the United States is tenuous and still federally illegal; in spite of this, Colorado leads the country in farming and production.

    #NoCoHempVillage will offer Hemp merchandise from body products to clothing, CBD oils and tinctures, art with Hemp Paper and a series of roundtable discussions. Environmental and economic activists will join farmers and entrepreneurs to talk about public policy, medicine, farming and the economics of Industrial Hemp – a true showcase of what is labeled the ‘new’ Industrial Revolution; one of mindful development, sustainability, and wellness. Let us all grow vigorously together and thrive in a world where a plant might actually be the answer.

     

    Check out the Arise Festival here – arisefestival.com

  • Going Green This Spring: Top Hemp Fashion Brands in 2016

    Going Green This Spring: Top Hemp Fashion Brands in 2016

    KY Hempsters

    Spring into Summer with Sustainable Hemp Fashion

    One thing we’ve fallen in love with when it comes to hemp is the fashion! Long gone are the days of burlap sacks and hippie necklaces, we’re talking about top-notch designer digs and practical purchases that last a lifetime!

    Not only does hemp production require much less water with little to no pesticides compared to cotton, it’s naturally better than any synthetic material.

    As people become increasingly conscious about their purchasing decisions, we believe it’s important that hemp textiles are readily available. While the hemp textile industry is in need of further development here in the U.S., many companies located across the country are taking strides to make hemp mainstream and advocate for its commercialization. We’ve listed just a few of our favorite sustainable hemp fashion companies below that are making green the new black.

    Pretty Birdie Co.

    hemp-fashion1

    Stephanie Teague Trippe has defined high-class hemp fashion through her company, Pretty Birdie Co.From elegant wedding gowns to classic business attire, Stephanie offers women the look and feel we want on the inside, and on the outside!

     

    With stunning, hand-sewn pieces made using a variety of hemp-blended materials, you can feel confident that your Pretty Birdie purchase is contributing to sustainable, more environmentally friendly practices.

    Plus, her designs are phenomenal! Even catching the eye of four-time Grammy winning artist, Esperanza Spalding, who has been seen wearing Stephanie’s designs on multiple occasions.

    We love our Pretty Birdie pieces and probably wear them too often – they really do fit better each time we wear them! The picture to the left is from last summer when we had a photo-shoot in one of the fields we worked with, showing off our Pretty Birdie outfits! Stephanie has recently expanded her company to include kids clothing and will rebrand with a launching of a new website, stay tuned!

    Jungmaven

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    When it comes to being comfy and cool, Jungmaven has us covered! So far, the 60% hemp 40% cotton blend shirts have been our absolute favorite. We can even wear them in the field and the hemp doesn’t stick! The photo below was taken after transferring raw hemp material, and there’s no hemp anywhere on the shirt. Not to mention, it’s so airy and allows our bodies to breath while we work.

    hemp-fashion4

    We can also throw them on with leggings and a cute scarf for an everyday outfit. Founder, Robert Jungmann, caters to men and women with a variety of simple, colorful, comfortable, yet versatile hemp shirts perfect for all activities.

    Jungmaven’s vision is to have everyone in a hemp T-shirt by 2020 to help mitigate climate change. 

    We’ve got ours, Do you?!

     

    Hemp Blue

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    Did you know at one point Kentucky produced a fabric called “Kentucky jeans” made from hemp? In fact, the first Levi Jeans were made using hemp canvas. Now, Hemp Blue is setting an all-new standard with a premium hemp denim line for men and women.

    In December, the L.A. based company launched the Hemp Blue project through a Kickstarter campaign, which was successfully funded well over the goal of $25,000. We can’t wait to get our first pair of Hemp Blue jeans this Spring!

     

    Recreator

    hemp-fashion6

    Who doesn’t love hemp screen tees and sustainable apparel with funky fresh designs? Recreator is re-creating hemp fashion from L.A. with local production from experienced artisans who believe in high-quality, ecological standards. All shirts are dyed, cut and sewn with a distinct pride.

    Minawear Hemp Lounge

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    Ladies, if you’re in the mood to move shop Minawear Hemp Lounge for hemp yoga pants, tops, sundresses and accessories perfect for getting out and moving about! Owner and Founder Mina Haggard prides herself in promoting health, education and care of the planet through her clothing. 

    hemp-fashion8

    Check us out rockin’ our hemp clothes at one of our events last year! Alyssa (pictured left) is wearing the olive spaghetti stap tunic from Minawear Hemp Lounge (see below) and Kirstin (pictured right) has on the flower of life design from Recreator!

    Step’n-Out in Hemp at NoCo

    Interested in learning more about hemp fashion? The NoCo Hemp Expo is hosting a Hemp Fashion Show on Saturday, April 2 at 3:00 pm in Loveland, Colorado at The Ranch Events Complex. Sponsored by Envirotextiles, Step’n-Out in Hemp offers a first-hand view into the world of sustainable, eco-friendly hemp fashions from the companies who are revolutionizing the textile industry today.

    Enviortextiles has been leading the way in hemp fabric and textile production in Colorado and the United States since 2002. The mother-daughter duo, Barbara Filippone and Summer-Star Haekse have been long-committed to producing quality fibers and catalyzing the need for a “cotton” clothing upgrade. 

    Some of the companies mentioned above will be at the Expo for you to connect with! We look forward to seeing even more hemp fashion brands and expanding our hemp wardrobe. Go green with hemp this spring at NoCo Hemp Expo and join us on Saturday, April 2nd at 3:00 PM to support all things hemp and the much-needed movement towards sustainable clothing and textiles in the U.S.

    For more information visit www.nocohempexpo.com.

  • Filling in The Gaps: A Sustainable Solution in Hemp Fabrics

    Filling in The Gaps: A Sustainable Solution in Hemp Fabrics

    Hot? Cold? Worried about infection? Wrap yourself in hemp!

    By: Brad Shannon

    Did you know? One of the oldest relics of human history is a piece of hemp fabric dating back to around 8,000 B.C. Betsy Ross is said to have sewn the first U.S. flag from hemp fabric, and the canvas used to make the first pair of Levi’s was even made from hemp fiber.

    Today, what’s old is new again, as hemp textiles are being used to make countless items, from apparel to shoes to housewares to furniture upholstery.

    The case for using hemp to make fabrics is clear. In addition to the benefits it provides from its growth cycle – enriching the soil and absorbing carbon dioxide from the air, hemp produces 250% more fiber per acre than cotton, 600% more than flax, and uses much less water than cotton to grow. Where cotton farmers use more insecticides than most any other crop grown, hemp uses very little in the way of chemicals for its cultivation.

    Hemp Traders notes that hemp textiles were long used mainly in industrial applications, particularly in the age of sailing ships for canvas, rope, and more, because untreated hemp fiber is course and rough. This was a challenge when it came to making apparel and other material for home use. Older methods of softening plant fibers used acids and worked well on cotton and flax, but weakened hemp fiber and made it unusable.

    In the 80s, a new enzyme-based process was created, preserving the quality of hemp fibers while softening and smoothing them, producing a better quality of fiber to blend with other fibers or use alone in textiles for clothing.

    Whether in a coarse or more finished form, hemp dyes well, taking up and retaining color, breathes in warm weather and has insulating properties in cool weather.

    As shown in various studies including “Comparative Study of the Resistance to Aspergillus Niger by Hemp, Cotton, and Flax,” by Bergh and Kitts, hemp has natural antibacterial/antimicrobial properties and is resistant to mold, making it a compelling material to use in products like Nuhni’s (none-eye’s) organic blankets and washcloths which can help to “prevent the spread of staph and pneumonia.”

    Hemp is extremely durable and becomes softer over time through use, and is naturally flame resistant without adding chemicals.

    fabric-blog2
    (media credit: nuhni.com)

    It can be blended with other fibers to achieve a desired feel and structure, incorporating the softness and flex of cotton or the unique smooth texture of silk. Hemp is also used alone to produce a broad variety of fabrics used in myriad products sold around the world.

    EnviroTextiles, LLC, a Cultivator-level sponsor of the 2015 NoCo Hemp Expo based in Glenwood Springs, CO, manfactures and imports more than 100 different hemp fabrics from around the world. Founder and hemp textile expert Barbara Filippone has been bringing sustainable hemp into the U.S. for more than 20 years. They offer hemp canvas, twill, muslin, plain weaves, silk blends, jersey knits, fleece, specialty weaves and faux fur, apparel and heavy-duty, upholstery-weight fabrics. These fabrics, from China, Romania, eastern Europe and Mexico, are used by Ralph Lauren, Versace, Volkswagen and others worldwide.

    To support the growing interest in the production of hemp-based clothing and household goods, EnviroTextiles offers immediate shipping with no minimums – either from their Colorado headquarters, or direct from the manufacturer to customers who place large production orders. Choose from dozens of unique hemp fabrics, including 100% hemp textiles and blends featuring a variety of other fibers. They also offer for finished clothing items including t-shirts, hoodies and socks, along with hemp towels and tote bags.

    This month’s Outside magazine features a t-shirt from Jungmaven, a hemp-based clothing company whose founder Robert Jungman has been working with hemp textiles and natural dyes since 1993. Hemp’s durability plays a role in the current trend of the outdoor apparel industry which focuses on the longevity, indestructibility, and sustainability of the products being make.

    Hemp and its history as a valuable fiber and textile in the U.S. has until now been “swept under the rug” by trivial policy. Prohibition on the cultivation of hemp has caused what Vital Hemp Founder Ron Alcalay calls, “a gap in our plant inheritance.” With recent changes in outdated hemp legislation, things are starting to look up for our one of the founding fibers.

    Learn more about hemp fibers and textiles from companies like Envirotextiles, LLC, along with Vital Hemp, Jungmaven, and more at NoCo Hemp Expo 2016 at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, CO April 1-2.

     

  • Recharge Your Wardrobe This Spring with Hemp: Sustainable Fashion and Textiles at NoCo 3

    Recharge Your Wardrobe This Spring with Hemp: Sustainable Fashion and Textiles at NoCo 3

    Eco-friendly clothing companies aim to bring hemp-trade to the U.S. in 2016.

    Sponsored by EnviroTextiles, Step’n-Out in Hemp offers a first-hand view into the world of sustainable, eco-friendly hemp fashions from the companies who are revolutionizing the textile industry today.

    Long-committed to producing quality fibers, EnviroTextiles leads the way in hemp fabric and textile production in Colorado and in the U.S. Mother-daughter duo Barbara Filippone and Summer Star-Haeske have owned and operated the Glenwood Springs green-company in since 2002.

    Their efforts have catalyzed the need for a “cotton” clothing upgrade in the U.S, bridging cultural values through the core of the East Asian hemp trade, and shedding light of the harmful chemicals being used in everyday apparel.

    hemp-fashionAs one of the most durable and long-lasting fibers on the planet, hemp requires less water to irrigate the plant and fewer acres to grow than the standard cotton fiber. Hemp fabric softens over time, and unlike cotton, uses little to no pesticides.[1]

    Showcasing business attire, casual wear and elegant evening gowns, NoCo 3 features hemp fabrics and designs made by Fibre Poet, Hemptique, Recreator, and more like Hemp Blue, an LA-based hemp denim company whose recent Kickstart campaign reached well over its pledged goal of $25,000 in December 2015.

    Importing hemp has been at a high cost to most preliminary manufacturers in the U.S., but given recent changes in state and federal legislature regarding allowing farmers to grown hemp, EnviroTextiles and clothing companies of the like are poised to deliver some of the most natural fibers grown on U.S. soil in years to come.

    Go green with hemp this spring at NoCo Hemp Expo and join us on Saturday, April 2nd at 3:00 PM to support all things hemp and the much-needed movement towards sustainable clothing and textiles in the U.S.

    Press Contact:
    Abbie Marks
    (985) 518-7493
    abbie@nocohempxpo.com

     

    [1] KY Hempsters. “Hemp vs Cotton: 3 Reasons Why Cotton Is Not King (and Why Hemp Should Be).” Leafly. N.p., 8 Oct. 2015. Web. 16 Mar. 2016.

  • Art Hands on Hemp!

    Art Hands on Hemp!

    Local artists exhibit patriotism and progress through sustainable hemp paper donated by Loveland’s own Tree Free Hemp company.

    By: Thomas Ivory, Jr.

    The long bast fibers of the hemp stalk have an epic reputation for strength, durability, and quality. This is true for cloth, rope, and paper, among other things.
    With the incorporation of Industrial Hemp into the art community, artists in NYC and Loveland, CO have gained another form of expression and a carbon-friendly mediu
    m to illustrate the limitless potential and possibility for hemp in the US.

    Tree Free HempMorris Beegle of TreeFreeHemp Paper Company specializes in 100% sustainable, hemp-blended, post-consumer recycled paper products.

    art“The really good sturdy paper,” said Beegle, “that’s where the fiber comes in. You can blend the hemp fibers with other natural fibers like  wood pulp or post-consumer material. Hemp is is a really good binding agent that will make the paper quiet strong.”

    From March 3-6, the NYC paper exhibit  Art on Paper displayed hemp-artwork by local artist Glenn Goldberg. Held in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the exhibit was produced in conjunction with Hemp NY City, a multi-day series on the contemporary hemp movement in New York and the nation.

    Goldberg received specialty handmade quality hemp paper donated by Tree Free Hemp.

    “What I donated to Hemp NY City was 250 8½x11 sheets of 110 pound cover-stock hemp paper,” said Beegle. “It’s 25% hemp, 75% post-consumer recycled. That’s all the paper that we’re doing. That’s the only commercial grade hemp paper on the planet right now.”

    Goldberg also received paper made from fiber of several #firstlegalharvest crops including “Ryan Loflin’s 2014 crop, Mike Lewis’ Kentucky 2014 crop, and some from Robin Alberti in Vermont,” said Beegle.

    “I sent those out to Green Field Paper Company in San Diego who made a bunch of those deckle  13×20 sheets. That paper was 65% hemp and 35% recycled cotton. Glenn did some little 4×9 individual art pieces with it.”

    A unique artisan product does have its flaws.

    “The commercial grade paper we use is pretty good for several types of art,” said Beegle, “but the paper is not a bright white, since it’s not bleached; there’s no chlorine.”

    Beegle’s hemp paper is off-white given its naturally processing, and has a bit more texture than your standard office paper.

    “Some of the colors, if you use watercolor-paint, don’t pop as much as they would on a nice white piece of paper. I do, however, think the absorption (of the paint) is great.”

    Back in Colorado, local artists are also getting a chance to work with this timeless medium.

    “Loveland is an art hub, if you didn’t know,” said Beegle. “There are all kinds of sculptors and painters around. It’s a pretty artsy little town.”

    “I donated 15 sheets of 26×20 to the ArtSpace in Loveland for 15 artists to create pieces from our hemp paper.”

    This month at 2nd Fridays in Loveland, the community art walk will display all the amazing hemp paper art provided by Tree Free Hemp

    The pieces will also be displayed at NoCo3 in the ArtZone area!

    “We have a demonstration space with easels set up and there will be some artists painting,” said Beegle.

    “People who want to paint will be able to paint on hemp paper, and we’ll also have a kid’s zone like last year where kids can sit and color on hemp paper. It’s meant to be interactive so people can participate in the expo, paint, create, and walk away with hemp in their hands.”