Our Tokyo exhibition has wrapped—three joyful days of conversations and fittings. Thank you to everyone who visited.
This time we showcased two themes: Liloop, which recirculates linen waste, and our next-step hemp garments. Many of you asked about the material’s rich hand and its environmental performance. Here’s a recap of the points we discussed.
What we champion as NEW AGE HEMP:
1) Broad, meaningful environmental benefits
2) High, nature-derived performance
3) A surface and feel beyond conventional “hemp”
For #3, we were happy you could touch and try the pieces to feel that richness firsthand.
Wide environmental benefits
• CO₂ uptake during growth
Multiple datasets exist; the EU’s Green Deal materials cite roughly 9–15 t/ha, while Hokkaido research reports higher figures under specific conditions. Actual values vary by climate, duration, and planting density. In any case, hemp cultivation can be strongly carbon-negative. The mill we work with cites ~13.5 t/ha.
• Soil remediation (phytoremediation)
Hemp helps remove certain heavy metals and restore soil health, and can grow on poor or abandoned land, aiding regeneration.
• Bio-based alternatives to petroleum
Seeds yield edible oil and energy feedstocks; flowers/leaves can support feed uses; the inner core (hurd) serves as woody input for building materials and fuel; the outer bast becomes textile hemp for clothing. Little goes to waste, enabling petroleum/plastic reduction across industries.
• Low agricultural inputs
Often grown with little to no pesticides and relatively low irrigation, supporting biodiversity by providing habitat within local ecosystems.
Natural performance
• Antibacterial/odor-resistant tendencies
Hemp contains lignin, associated with natural antibacterial effects (famously present in bamboo bark).
• “Breathing” comfort
A porous structure helps buffer humidity—cooler in summer, warmer in winter—like gentle, natural climate control.
• UV filtering
Porosity and fiber structure can scatter UV; consistent protection depends on fabric engineering (e.g., open gauze won’t perform the same).
• Inherent strength
Before synthetics, hemp was renowned for strength—used in thatch reinforcement, ropes, nets, and lines.
Some customers describe a calm, “harmonized” feeling when using hemp in clothing or home textiles. While hard to quantify, its long cultural use in rituals hints at qualities we’re still learning about. We’ll keep researching and sharing what we find.
(Daitoh)
