Beau Merks
Hemp & Jute
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Hemp & Jute could both be a replacement of Linen. Due to the fact that all three of the fabrics are bast fibres and growing well on land, they are mostly irregular and could feel quite harsh.
Hemp has always been valued for its strength and durability. Sailors relied upon hemp for strength to hold their ships and sails, and the coarseness of the fiber made hemp useful for canvas, sailcloth, sacks, rope, and paper. While hemp fiber was the first choice for industry, the hashness of the fiber restricted hemp from apparel and most home uses. Hemp needed to be softened. Traditional methods to soften vegetable fibers used acids to remove lignin, a type of natural glue found in many plant fibers. While this method to remove lignin worked well with cotton or flax, it weakened the fibers of hemp and left them too unstable for use. Hemp therefore remained as an industrial fabric. Finally an enzymatic process has been developed to remove the lignin from the fibre.
Not only is hemp strong, but it also holds its shape, stretching less than any other natural fiber. This prevents hemp garments from stretching out or becoming distorted with use. The more hemp is used, the softer it gets. Hemp doesn't wear out, it wears in. Hemp is also naturally resistant to mold and ultraviolet light. Due to the porous nature of the fiber, hemp is more water absorbent, and will dye and retain its color better than any fabric except cotton. This porous nature allows hemp to "breathe," so that it is cool in warm weather. Furthermore, air which is trapped in the fibers is warmed by the body, making hemp garments naturally warm in cooler weather.
Jute is known as the ‘golden fibre’ as it is one of the longest and most used natural fibre for various textile applications. Jute is extracted from the bark of the white jute plant. It is a natural fibre with golden and silky shine and hence called the Golden Fibre. Jute is an annual crop taking about 120 days (April/May-July/August) to grow.
The Jute fibre is long, shiny and soft. Jute fibre is 100% bio-degradable and recyclable and thus environmentally friendly. Cultivating jute in crop rotations enriches the fertility of the soil for the next crop. Jute also does not generate toxic gases when burnt.
Advantages of jute include good insulating and antistatic properties, as well as having low thermal conductivity and moderate moisture retention.
Sources:
http://www.hemptraders.com/Hemp-Textiles-s/1817.htm
http://www.fao.org/economic/futurefibres/fibres/jute/en/