Why Hemp?
NUMBAT Australia – about the product
The fabric used in the manufacture of NUMBAT Australia products is sourced from the hilly & mountainous regions of the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal where it has grown wild for centuries. Every piece is handmade by skilled and creative Himalayan artisans (men and women) using only natural and eco-friendly raw material. As a result of this by hand process colours and stitching may vary from one piece to another – this adds to the uniqueness of the product and its bohemian feel. Because all our products are environment friendly they do not cause deforestation, but in fact help reduce it.
THE PROCESS: For centuries in Nepal local villagers have been collecting wild hemp and nettles in quantities that do not adversely affect the bio-system to keep the harvest eco-friendly. Production begins with soaking the plant fibre, which is then boiled with ash to bleach it to make it soft. After drying the fibre on rocks in the sun it is turned into thread by hand and delivered to looms to be woven into fabric. Hemp fabric is more durable than cotton and hemp products are long-lasting, this natural fibre fabric is very healthy to wear - providing warmth in cold weather and helping you stay cool during hot weather.
BENEFITS OF HEMP CLOTHING:
Hemp is a very eco-friendly crop, whilst it requires no pesticides and very little water it renews the soil with each growth cycle. It has a long root system which assists with erosion prevention and helps retain topsoil. Nothing is wasted in the hemp production process and it produces more fibre per acre than trees, the crop can be renewed 2 – 3 times per year and hemp plants absorb more carbon dioxide than trees – also, the hemp plant commercially grown for fibre has no significant value as a recreational drug.
WHY WEAR HEMP?
Clothing made of hemp fibre is lightweight and absorbent, with three times the tensile strength of cotton and the first hemp plants were spun into fibre than 10,000 years ago. Whilst being durable and long lasting because it is grown free of any chemicals it is a healthy and environmentally conscious material for everyday clothing. Hemp also becomes softer with washing and will wear in rather than wear out, it has excellent breathability and insulation properties – Making the wearer cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
Of course, nothing lasts forever. When hemp clothing is no longer wearable it can biodegrade completely, leading to a minimal ecological footprint over the whole life of each garment, by making the choice to buy eco-friendly hemp fabric you are helping to protect our environment.