Both hemp fabric and linen are eco-friendly natural textiles with a neutral pH that makes them perfect for sensitive skin. Both materials have been used for thousands of years to make clothing, bedding, and other fabrics. However, there are several key differences between hemp fabric and flax linen fabric when it comes to their eco-friendliness, sustainability, and practicality as natural textiles.
What is hemp fabric?
Hemp fabric is a natural textile made from the fibers of the hemp plant. Originally cultivated in northern China and later in Europe, hemp has been grown for thousands of years and has many uses. Hemp fabric is made from fibers taken from the plant’s inner bark and is naturally long, strong, and durable. The long fibers allow the fabric to be woven into many different types of fabric, including linen, denim, and canvas. Hemp fabric is naturally eco-friendly and biodegradable, making it a great choice for fashion designers, home decorators, and eco-conscious consumers. Hemp fabric is also naturally strong and durable, making it a great material to use for clothing and home textiles as it is simple to maintain. It even has medical benefits for people with sensitive skin. Hemp fabric is naturally anti-microbial and anti-fungal, which makes it a great choice for people who are allergic to certain fabrics or cannot tolerate synthetic materials.
What is flax linen fabric?
Flax linen fabric is a natural textile made from the fibers of the flax plant. The flax plant has been cultivated for thousands of years and is most commonly found in Northern Europe. Flax linen fabric is made from the fibers taken from the plant’s stalk and is traditionally woven into linen fabric. Like hemp, flax linen fabric is naturally eco-friendly and biodegradable. Flax linen fabric is also naturally strong and durable, albeit less so than hemp.
The competition
Both fabrics boast eco-friendly qualities. The main reason that flax linen bedding is widespread while hemp linen is only just making a come back is because of the harsh regulatory conditions that the hemp industry was up against in Australia between 1937 and 2017. The production of hemp fabric tends to require fewer harmful chemicals and pesticides that flax as the low levels of THC present act as a natural pest repellant. Both hemp and flax are relatively water-efficient during production when compared to other natural fibres such as cotton. Hemp is also a great carbon sequestration crop, meaning it can help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in the soil at greater rates than other crops including flax. Hemp also promotes biodiversity during growth at a much higher rate than flax production.
Why hemp makes the best bedding
One of the most common uses of hemp fabric is as bedding. All of the reasons you love your flax linen bedding are matched by hemp bed linen. Hemp fabric is naturally anti-microbial and anti-fungal, making it a great option for people with sensitive skin. Additionally, hemp fabric is naturally anti-bacterial, so it can help protect against dust mites, which are common causes of allergic reactions and asthma in people with sensitive skin. Hemp fabric is also naturally breathable and insulating, making it a great option no matter the season.
Conclusion
Both hemp fabric and flax linen fabric are natural textiles that are eco-friendly and perfect for people with sensitive skin. If you love flax linen then it is time to try its trendy new counterpart, hemp and rest easy knowing that you made a conscientious decision for your health and the environment.