What the hemp?!

The ‘magical’ plant that currently lacks international credit!

You wouldn’t expect such an innocent looking plant to cause so much controversy around the world, but hemp comes from the same family as Cannabis (or if you want to be fancy you can say Cannabaceae). So, in case you were wondering, no you can’t get high off hemp… it is more like marijuana’s sober cousin. Unlike cannabis, hemp has very low levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and therefore mainly cultivated for its strong and durable fibres. Despite there being a clear scientific distinction between marijuana and hemp, US propaganda of the 1930s highly stigmatised hemp’s public image. This negative image also stemmed from an economic desire by the Cotton and Timber industry to derail competition. All of this, led to the creation of The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, which banned Hemp production in the United States. Eight decades later, we can finally celebrate the signing of the 2018 Farm Bill, which allows hemp to be cultivated, processed and sold in the US. 

At Pushaoo, we strive to rebrand hemp! We believe that it is time to wake up and remind the world of why this fabric will pave the way towards sustainable fashion. We know that fashion is an integral part of our daily lives, it reflects our individuality and communicates our creativity to the people around us. But that’s just scratching the surface! Consciously choosing our clothes is one of the easiest forms of activism- it means reminding ourselves of the enormous environmental impact the fast fashion industry is having on our planet and therefore actively choosing not to sustain this wasteful and linear mindset. At Pushaoo, we believe that by taking small steps we can all begin to affect big change. So, by choosing ethical, transparent and sustainable products we can truly make a difference.

Ok, fine…moral-speech over… going back to the point: why hemp? What is so great about it?

Firstly, Hemp can naturally clean and replenish the soil, a process known as phytoremediation. I know it sounds complicated but it’s actually very simple: Phyto means plant and remediation means restoring balance. In other words, hemp can help us clean the world from nasty chemicals…. I know… mind-blowing! It does make one wonder whether Mother Earth knew we would make numerous mistakes on our ‘quest to build a civilisation’. A great example of this is how after the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, hemp was used to decontaminate nearby fields[1]! Not to mention, this green and beautiful crop’s speedy growth makes it a carbon warrior! Industrial hemp is capable of absorbing more carbon emissions than most forests or any commercial crop³. Hemp is basically, the plant-version of a talented person who is seeking a job but hasn’t got enough experience on their CV…

Perhaps, you are starting to realize why we called this a ‘magical’ plant. But wait, don’t go away just yet- there is more you need to know! In a world struggling with climate change, water is one of our most precious resources. Did you know that producing Hemp fabric requires less than a third of the water needed for cotton?[2] Not to mention that its strong and durable fibers means your clothes can last longer. The idea behind all of this is to support slow fashion and move away from the wasteful mindset our capitalist society has unconsciously embedded in us. That need for more is not sustainable in the long term. So, what Pushaoo wants to offer you, is the chance to invest in stylish and high-quality hemp products while helping us create a world that is more aware of its limits.

Author: Alice Lunardelli

[1] https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/can-hemp-clean-up-the-earth-629589/

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/oct/02/from-eco-benefits-to-legal-status-everything-you-need-to-know-about-wearing-hemp

[3] https://hemp-copenhagen.com/images/Hemp-cph-Carbon-sink.pdf