A thousand years story

Hemp processing for fabrics is the last step in a long series that starts from sowing: harvesting, whisking, macerating, fiber extraction and drying, spinning, and weaving. In the past, harvest started in August and took advantage of the summer heat to facilitate drying; plants were collected in bundles that made it easier to shed leaves. The next steps included maceration for about a week, then fiber extraction, initially executed primarily with craft tools but later with specific machinery to speed up the process.

The extracted fibers were then dried, combed, and spun. The best fiber for textile purposes is long, 250cm at a minimum. If the plant experiences drought at any point in its lifecycle, which dries up the soil, it blooms prematurely, interrupting its growth, and consequently producing shorter fibers.
To yield high-quality textile fibers, very tall plants – around 4 meters – are preferred. While in the past fiber extraction was done manually, today it is completely automated.

Hemp textiles have numerous beneficial properties, not only for the environment but also for humans. In addition to being extremely resistant, hemp absorbs a lot of moisture thanks to its large internal cavities. It has good heat dispersion properties, so it remains cool in summer but warm in winter. It hardly absorbs odors, even bodily odors, it has greater protection against UV rays compared to other materials, and it has an electric charge that stimulates the skin, promoting blood flow.

Hemp textiles are extremely porous, resulting in a good sound dampening and permeability. Hemp is not affected by dust mites, molds, fungi, and moths, and it is non-allergenic.