Part 1 - HEMP, A Brief History – Where did it come from and how was it used?

Hemp History

When it comes to the wardrobe we like to wear during the heat of summer or the cold of winter, you might think about natural materials made out of cotton, silk, or wool. But can you think of another natural material that is both comfortable and durable? We looked back into history and found several interesting and forgotten facts about, drum roll please, hemp.

Hemp seems to have been around as a material for cloth since we first settled down and started cultivating plants. Hemp has been discovered in tombs dating back to 8,000 B.C.E. Christopher Columbus sailed to America on ships rigged with hemp. Hemp was grown extensively in colonial America by its founding fathers including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Betsy Ross even sewed the first American flag from hemp.

First American Flag sewn by Betsy Ross on Hemp Fabric

Due to its toughness and durability, hemp was used to create sails and ropes for boats, but alas, for thousands of years it was also a harsh and course material to work with and not used for clothing.

Vessels of all sizes used Hemp for sails and ropes

Hemp Forms and Benefits

Aside for its use on boats, hemp has also been used as a source of nutrition. There is a saying that Hemp Hearts bring happiness to hearts of those who consume them. The hemp seeds have a slight nutty flavor, making them incredibly versatile for use in cooking, baking, or for adding to smoothies and salads.

Hemp Seeds of incrediable versatillity

Sounds tasty, but I digress, I’m not here to talk about eating hemp, but how it has been used as a fabric through the years. One special breakthrough allowed hemp to go from ships to shore and to our local clothing shops. Tune in to the next blog to learn how and where hemp is used in our everyday lives.