One of the pioneers of the hemp textiles market, Hemp Traders, recently made another breakthrough for the textile and garment industry with its introduction of the first line of domestically-knit hemp fabrics in the USA.
This will be the first time since before cannabis hemp prohibition, in 1937, that US American-made hemp fabrics will be made available to the general public. And at competitive bulk rates, no less.
For now, the yarns are imported from China but the hemp fabrics are all to be knit, manufactured and dyed in Los Angeles, California, at a competitive price level that is lower than some imported hemp fabrics.
US textile mills and manufacturers
“Many customers want hemp textiles that are made in America,” Hemp Traders President and industry veteran Lawrence Serbin said at the product line’s launch. “This is the first step in bringing the entire process back home.”
The company, which was founded in 1994, will start by making three types of hemp fabric. Jersey is used for t-shirts, French Terry for sweatshirts and sweatpants, and Rib Knit for accessories and apparel. Hemp Traders is the largest supplier of cannabis hemp fiber products in the country.
“Not only does this help the American hemp industry to position hemp textiles for a larger share of the market and make hemp products more available; it does it at a cheaper price than the same Chinese imports.”
USA still lacks yarn-spinning capability
A frustrating infrastructure problem for the textile and garment industries is the missing link between their markets and US farmers, who have been able to grow fiber hemp since President Obama signed the 2014 Farm Bill.
We currently still need to import hemp yarns from China since the machines literally don’t exist in the US,” explained Serbin. “Nonetheless, this is a huge step towards building the domestic hemp market.
“The demand already exists. We are currently working with farmers and processors to bring decortication, processing, and spinning facilities online. The ultimate goal is to perform the entire process in the United States utilizing 100 percent domestically grown hemp.”
First product run already available
The first run of domestically knit hemp fabric is already available for bulk orders at HempTraders.Com with another set of eight available within the next two weeks.
Hemp Traders has marketed cannabis hemp fabrics, boards, twine, rope, webbing and other materials for longer than a quarter century. The company’s mission is to help the environment by bringing hemp back into the mainstream and supplying the highest quality hemp products at the lowest possible prices.
Source: http://theleafonline.com/