"Plate" - 55% Hemp, 45% Organic Cotton
We like to do things properly.
We're passionate about our products, how they're made, who makes them, and what they're made from. We want to make sure we're creating pieces of quality, that we are proud to put our name to.
We believe that quality is not just about how well something has been made, but also how durable it is, and whether it will last. We know how frustrating it can be when your favourite jeans wearing a hole through in the crotch. We believe that clothes should be lived in, kept treasured. We think Vivienne Westwood pretty much sums it up:
"Buy less. Choose well. Make it last. Quality, not quantity. Everybody's buying far too many clothes."
- Vivienne Westwood
We think it's important to consider the environment because it has a direct effect on our health. We choose our fabrics not only for their quality, their "feel appeal" but also for their ethical credentials. We carefully select suppliers and manufacturers we work with to ensure people aren't exploited in the making of our garments.
Hemp is an incredible multi-tasking fibre that provides the quality, resilience and durability needed for every-day wear, as well as growing in a way that preserves the environment. In fact, because of its ruggedness and comfort it is said that Hemp was used by Levi Strauss for the very first pair of jeans made in California. You'll find it in a few pieces in our collection, combined with Organic Cotton, so we thought we'd elaborate a little on why we have chosen to work with Hemp.
"I just think people should invest in the world. Don't invest in fashion, but invest in the world."
- Vivienne Westwood
What is Hemp?
Well, it is cannabis. But it's not marijuana. Although hemp and marijuana are both from the cannabis species, hemp contains virtually no THC (the ingredient that gets you high). But it does have lots of other uses. It's very similar to linen and is more robust than cotton. It's very versatile, and a pretty incredible plant actually. As well as using its fibres to make clothes, you can make paper and even building materials from it, and its seeds can be pressed to produce oil.
"Matrix" - 55% Hemp, 45% Organic Cotton
14 incredible facts about the Superplant that is Hemp (and key reasons we choose it for our garments):
Durability
1. Hemp is six times as strong as cotton, much more robust and resistant to weathering and wear.
2. It also holds its shape, stretching less than any other natural fibre, so Hemp garments won't stretch out or lose their shape with use.
3. The more Hemp is used, the softer it gets. Hemp doesn't wear out, it wears in.
4. Hemp fabrics dye very effectively due to the porous nature of the fibre, and retain colour well over time.
Sustainability
5. Hemp only uses one twentieth of the amount of water required to grow and process cotton.
6. It is naturally less vulnerable to insects and crowds out weeds so it doesn’t require any chemicals at all to grow.
7. Unlike cotton which depletes the soil of nutrients, Hemp does not exhaust the soil, and can be grown consecutively for over twenty years without the soil being exhausted. The plants shed their leaves throughout the growing season, adding rich organic matter to the ground.
8. Hemp's roots can delve into the soil over three feet. These strong roots help to anchor and maintain the soil in rainy, waterlogged conditions.
9. As it is a natural fibre, all garments made solely from hemp are biodegradable, compostable and recyclable.
10. Hemp is an exceptionally fast-growing crop, and can produce 250% more fibre than cotton and 600% more fibre than flax (linen) using the same sized area of land.
11. It is a worker-friendly, non-toxic material, the crop is hand-picked, creating jobs.
Wearability
12. Hemp is naturally resistant to mould and bacterial growth, preventing odours.
13. It protects your skin by naturally filtering 95% harmful UV light from the sun.
14. Hemp is also porous, so it is actually breathable, keeping you cool in the summer. Yet air which is trapped amongst the fibres is warmed by the body, making hemp garments naturally warm in colder weather.
"Slate" - 55% Hemp, 45% Organic Cotton
So... even though it is kind of Cannabis...You probably shouldn't try smoking one of our T-shirts. We've heard that Hemp, the sister plant to marijuana, might just give you a headache, or even produce laxative effects. Probably not the result you're after.
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