Not all fabrics are created equal: Why I keep coming back to hemp

I fell into hemp through frustration.

Like a lot of people, I was tired of clothing that looked cute for five minutes and then pilled, stretched out, trapped sweat, held odors, or felt like wearing a plastic bag by the end of the day. I was tired of fast fashion and tired of feeling like “they just don’t make things like they used to.”

Then I started learning about hemp.

The funny thing is hemp isn’t new. It’s old. Really old. Humans have used hemp fiber for centuries because it is durable, practical, and naturally high-performing. We didn’t discover something trendy; we forgot something useful.

Here are a few reasons hemp keeps winning me over:

Breathable, without feeling flimsy
Hemp fibers are naturally breathable and moisture-wicking. That means less sticky, swampy, trapped feeling in summer and better comfort year-round.

Warm when it's cold. Cool when it's hot.
One of my favorite things about hemp is its thermoregulating quality. Customers describe it better than I can:

“My workplace is chilly. I wear a cotton uniform shirt and can’t wear a hoodie. I tested my Threads of Eden hemp top underneath with a cardigan. Not too cold, not too hot. I’m no longer left shivering.”

That Minnesota weather struggle is real: freezing office, warm parking lot, cold morning, sunny afternoon. Hemp shines in the in-between seasons.

Durable without feeling stiff
Hemp has a reputation for strength. There’s a reason it was used historically in rope and work textiles. Modern hemp knits aren’t the scratchy burlap people imagine. They soften beautifully over time and are made to live life in.

Less laundry? Yes please.
Hemp has natural antimicrobial properties, which means many pieces stay fresher longer. Sometimes a garment genuinely just needs fresh air overnight instead of another trip through the wash.

Kinder to the earth
Hemp generally requires less water than many conventional crops, naturally resists many pests, and grows quickly. I love beautiful clothing, but I also want clothing that doesn’t ask us to ignore the bigger picture.

Maybe that’s why I keep coming back to hemp.

Not because it’s trendy. Not because it’s perfect.

Because it feels a little like going back to the way clothing was meant to be.

—Laura