Why I Chose Hemp
My connection to nature started long before Set Me Free.
As a child, I devoured the books of Gerald Durrell. His stories about Corfu, animals, and wild landscapes shaped how I saw the world. For a while, I even planned to run my own zoo.
That dream changed. The instinct to protect what we live alongside did not.
I was buying vintage long before it was fashionable. I wore my grandmother’s 1970s dress to a high school party. During my Master’s in London, I became involved with the Environmental Justice Foundation, where I learned more about cotton farming and textile supply chains. Around that time, I started paying closer attention to labels — and noticing how much of what we wear is made from polyester.
Polyester is derived from petroleum. It does not biodegrade. It sheds microplastics. Yet it dominates modern wardrobes.
That awareness pushed me to experiment. I started a small zero-waste shop. I made reusable cloth nappies and used them with my son almost full-time, unable to ignore how long disposable ones sit in landfills.
Eventually, I wanted to create something for adults — everyday essentials that people don’t buy second-hand. That search led me to hemp.
Hemp grows quickly, requires little water, and doesn’t depend on pesticides. It can improve soil health rather than exhaust it. The fibre is exceptionally strong — historically used for ropes and sails long before synthetic materials took over.
To put water use into perspective: producing 1 kilogram of conventional cotton can require up to 10,000–20,000 litres of water, depending on where and how it is grown. Hemp, in suitable climates, can often grow with little to no irrigation.
Organic cotton improves on conventional methods, but it remains a thirsty crop. Linen, made from flax, is also a responsible fibre — yet hemp tends to be more durable over time. Bamboo sounds sustainable, but most bamboo fabrics are processed into viscose using heavy chemical treatments.
Hemp felt clear. Logical. Hard to argue with.
After moving to Mauritius, the decision became even stronger. In heat and humidity, I needed clothing that breathes, protects from intense sun, and holds up over time. Hemp does exactly that — and it softens beautifully with wear.
I chose hemp because it aligns with how I’ve always tried to live: use less, choose well, and avoid unnecessary harm.
And once I started wearing it, I realised something else — it doesn’t just make environmental sense.
It makes long-term sense.
For the soil.
For the climate.
For the body.
And for a wardrobe meant to last.
Sources: Water use data referenced from reports by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and Textile Exchange industry analyses on fibre production.