Hemp has long been known as a durable, biodegradable, and sustainable fabric constructed of fibers of a high-yielding crop. Historically, hemp has been utilized for industrial purposes and is famous for being one of the most durable and versatile natural fibers.
With so many advantages, hemp is a highly attractive material when it comes to trying to shop more sustainably. However, we have to note that nothing is perfect. To give you a clearer view of what hemp fabric is all about, we’re here to talk about hemp’s disadvantages – and what you can do about them.
So, what are the disadvantages of hemp? Scan our carefully constructed list below to find out and gain more of an idea about this sustainable material!
It’s Expensive
There’s just no getting around this one – hemp garments are generally more pricey than other alternatives. The main reason for this is that this fabric is not as mainstream as other alternatives, such as cotton. If you’ve been adopting sustainable practices for some time now, you know that whenever a product is new, it will cost a little more than older products. However, we must consider that as more individuals start to show interest in a product, the price of it will begin to reduce. However, for now, you must weigh out what you can afford and the best practices you can take to become more sustainable.
It Requires High Maintenance
Some hemp fabrics need a little extra maintenance than other options out there. Hemp fabric – especially delicate types – can shed the first time you wear it, although only if you work up a sweat. However, any shedding of this material is actually harmless. Plus, you can always prevent shedding by handwashing your new hemp garment before its first wear.
Additionally, while hemp might shed a little on the first wear, synthetic fabrics have been known to relieve extensive amounts of microfibers during every wash cycle. This explains the concern around microfiber pollution that harmfully affects both environmental and human health.
It’s Prone To Creasing
Hemp garments do tend to wrinkle – just like most natural fibers. However, since hemp clothing lasts a while and becomes more comfortable over time, the advantages still seem to outweigh this drawback. After all, you can reduce wrinkles in hemp by taking on a few practices, usually encompassing the drying process.
For example, to avoid wrinkles, try not to wring damp hemp fabric prior to drying. Also, ensure you spread or stretch the material when it is line drying or lying flat to dry. When using a dryer, ensure you utilize a tumble dry setting. Finally, you could iron your hemp garments while they are still a little damp.
Not Rich In Color
A disadvantage of hemp clothing is that, since it is natural, it doesn’t have the color richness that synthetic materials do. You could argue that hemp fabric never looks as ‘nice’ as synthetic clothing, instead having an organic, natural look. So, hemp might not be for you if you love vibrant colors. However, by providing subtle and neutral colors, one could argue that hemp fabric is excellent for accessorizing and can provide a highly sophisticated look.
There Is A Stigma Surrounding It
Even as hemp continues to crop up in the market, many individuals are still skeptical about it. Indeed, hemp is related to marijuana, and this only adds to hemp’s drawbacks because some have a challenging time understanding the difference between these two products.
Hemp is also strongly associated with hippie culture – which is certainly not for everyone. Some individuals want to avoid falling into this category, although this is all down to personal preference.
Key Takeaways
Firstly, while hemp clothing does hold some drawbacks, there shouldn’t be any that should stop you from buying these garments.
After all, the advantages of hemp fabric significantly outweigh any disadvantages that are listed above – especially if you want to strive toward sustainability.
Finally, it’s apparent that any individual can make a difference with clothing choices. If you can live with hemp’s disadvantages, you can positively impact our planet with its sustainable benefits.
Hemp has long been known as a durable, biodegradable, and sustainable fabric constructed of fibers of a high-yielding crop. Historically, hemp has been utilized for industrial purposes and is famous for being one of the most durable and versatile natural fibers.
With so many advantages, hemp is a highly attractive material when it comes to trying to shop more sustainably. However, we have to note that nothing is perfect. To give you a clearer view of what hemp fabric is all about, we’re here to talk about hemp’s disadvantages – and what you can do about them.
So, what are the disadvantages of hemp? Scan our carefully constructed list below to find out and gain more of an idea about this sustainable material!
It’s Expensive
There’s just no getting around this one – hemp garments are generally more pricey than other alternatives. The main reason for this is that this fabric is not as mainstream as other alternatives, such as cotton. If you’ve been adopting sustainable practices for some time now, you know that whenever a product is new, it will cost a little more than older products. However, we must consider that as more individuals start to show interest in a product, the price of it will begin to reduce. However, for now, you must weigh out what you can afford and the best practices you can take to become more sustainable.
It Requires High Maintenance
Some hemp fabrics need a little extra maintenance than other options out there. Hemp fabric – especially delicate types – can shed the first time you wear it, although only if you work up a sweat. However, any shedding of this material is actually harmless. Plus, you can always prevent shedding by handwashing your new hemp garment before its first wear.
Additionally, while hemp might shed a little on the first wear, synthetic fabrics have been known to relieve extensive amounts of microfibers during every wash cycle. This explains the concern around microfiber pollution that harmfully affects both environmental and human health.
It’s Prone To Creasing
Hemp garments do tend to wrinkle – just like most natural fibers. However, since hemp clothing lasts a while and becomes more comfortable over time, the advantages still seem to outweigh this drawback. After all, you can reduce wrinkles in hemp by taking on a few practices, usually encompassing the drying process.
For example, to avoid wrinkles, try not to wring damp hemp fabric prior to drying. Also, ensure you spread or stretch the material when it is line drying or lying flat to dry. When using a dryer, ensure you utilize a tumble dry setting. Finally, you could iron your hemp garments while they are still a little damp.
Not Rich in Color
A disadvantage of hemp clothing is that, since it is natural, it doesn’t have the color richness that synthetic materials do. You could argue that hemp fabric never looks as ‘nice’ as synthetic clothing, instead having an organic, natural look. So, hemp might not be for you if you love vibrant colors. However, by providing subtle and neutral colors, one could argue that hemp fabric is excellent for accessorizing and can provide a highly sophisticated look.
There Is a Stigma Surrounding It
Even as hemp continues to crop up in the market, many individuals are still skeptical about it. Indeed, hemp is related to marijuana, and this only adds to hemp’s drawbacks because some have a challenging time understanding the difference between these two products.
Hemp is also strongly associated with hippie culture – which is certainly not for everyone. Some individuals want to avoid falling into this category, although this is all down to personal preference.
Key Takeaways
There are many things you can take away from learning about hemp fabric’s disadvantages.
Firstly, while hemp clothing does hold some drawbacks, there shouldn’t be any that should stop you from buying these garments.
After all, the advantages of hemp fabric significantly outweigh any disadvantages that are listed above – especially if you want to strive toward sustainability.
Finally, it’s apparent that any individual can make a difference with clothing choices. If you can live with hemp’s disadvantages, you can positively impact our planet with its sustainable benefits.
