With ethical fashion rising in popularity, hemp jeans should be on your radar as a stylish, eco-conscious choice.
Hemp jeans are durable and sustainable thanks to hemp fibers. The term “hemp” is normally associated with marjuana, but there are some key differences between the two.
What Are Hemp Jeans?
Hemp and marijuana are derived from the same plant, Cannabis sativa. The main difference involves the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. THC is responsible for the “high” you get from marijuana.
Legally, hemp has to contain less than 0.3% THC, and marijuana contains anything over that amount. This difference was referenced in the American Agricultural Act of 2018, establishing hemp as a normal agricultural product.
Hemp jeans are rising in popularity but aren’t mainstream yet. Due to this, hemp jeans are often made from a combination of hemp and other fabrics like cotton, polyester, and spandex.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at a few styles of hemp pants, including 5-pocket pants and jeans.
Benefits of Hemp Jeans
Hemp jeans are beneficial for both the environment and the wearer.
Sustainable
Hemp is a sustainable fabric since it requires 50% less water to produce than conventional cotton. It also grows much faster at a rate of four to 12 weeks. Alternatively, cotton takes around 21 to 25 weeks to complete a growth cycle.
Durable
Hemp is a very durable fabric. It is tear-resistant, and under normal circumstances, a hemp clothing piece can last 20 years longer than one made from conventional cotton. This difference is due to the high tensile strength of hemp fabric, which is three times stronger than cotton.
Over time, hemp fabric does not break down and thin out as much as cotton does when washed.
Antibacterial & Thermodynamic
Hemp fibers are breathable and moisture-wicking. This means hemp jeans will keep you cool while it’s hot and warm while it’s cold out. Hemp is also mold and mildew-resistant.
Possible Disadvantages of Hemp Jeans
There are only a few disadvantages of hemp jeans to keep in mind.
Availability & Cost
The main disadvantage of hemp jeans is that they simply aren’t widely available yet. Basically, there needs to be a supply chain and infrastructure in place to cultivate and process hemp easily. Hemp also has to compete with well-established fabrics like cotton and polyester.
Since hemp isn’t mainstream yet, it costs businesses more to produce and the consumer more to purchase the products. Thankfully, many brands currently offer varying degrees of hemp blends at comparable prices to cotton blend denim jeans.
Stretch & Comfort
Lastly, hemp jeans are known for their fantastic durability, but this can come at the cost of comfort and stretch. This factor, however, will depend on the brand and specific fabric composition of the jeans.
Similar to leather boots, hemp jeans will become even more comfortable over time with regular use.
10 Best Hemp Jeans for Men
Read on for the best hemp jeans for Men.
Levi’s 501® Original Fit Selvedge Men’s Jeans
Levi’s jeans are classic. The 501 is even the blueprint for most other jeans today. This version is composed of 74% cotton and 26% hemp.
The pants are non-stretch, have a button fly, and feature 5-pocket styling.
Patagonia Men’s Hemp Denim 5-Pocket Pants
These jeans offer a relaxed fit and are strongly constructed, featuring a blend of 13.8-oz 41% TENCEL™ lyocell/39% organic cotton/20% industrial hemp.
They are fair trade certified sewn and offer deep utilitarian pockets, making them great for carrying hand tools on the job.
Afends Ninety Twos
Are you looking for some 90’s style hemp jeans?
Check out this bestseller that features 78% organic cotton and 22% hemp. They are mid-rise with a relaxed leg fit.
Mott & Bow Slim Charlton Jeans
These Mott & Bow jeans come in a popular slim fit that’s not too tight or loose.
They feature a diverse blend of 80% cotton, 13% hemp, 6% post-consumer recycled cotton, and 1% Elastane.
Nuccio Five Pocket Hemp Jeans
These jeans are composed of an almost even split of hemp and organic cotton with 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton, making this an incredible sustainable option.
Tentree Hemp Stretch Chino Pant
I know; we talked about how hemp pants aren’t typically stretchy. But this chino option from Tentree offers you some flexibility.
This style features a winning combination of 53% hemp, 44% organic cotton, and 3% spandex, and it has an elastic waistband with a drawcord.
Taylor Stitch The Camp Pant
This hemp camp pant is considered a Taylor Stitch Essential, meaning the brand prioritizes keeping the style in stock. This feature makes finding your next pair of hemp pants easy.
These pants offer a more diverse blend of fabrics consisting of 54% hemp, 30% recycled polyester, 14% organic cotton, and 2% spandex. You’ll find this style offers a little more stretch than other hemp compositions that exclude polyester and spandex.
Taylor Stitch The Chore Pant
This Taylor Stitch style is another great option if you’re looking for slightly stretchier hemp jeans.
They feature angled front slash pockets and signature double-knee reinforced construction.
Lucky Brand 223 Straight Hemp Jeans
This Lucky Brand option offers a lower percentage of hemp with a blend of 72% cotton and 28% hemp.
This is still a great versatile style with a relaxed fit through the hip and thigh.
The Hemp Shop Organic Straight Fit Hemp Denim Jeans
These straight-cut jeans feature a greater amount of hemp with a composition of 55% hemp and 45% organic cotton.
The use of organic, not conventional, cotton makes this pair of jeans a winning, conscious choice.
Conclusion: Try Hemp Jeans
The benefits of hemp jeans greatly outweigh any cons. Hemp fabric is faster to grow than conventional cotton and uses fewer resources like water, pesticides, and fertilizers.
Hemp jeans won’t be your stretchiest and most forgiving pants, but they will likely be the most durable. They might come at a slightly higher cost but will probably last years longer than your other traditional denim jeans.
Give a pair or two a try from this list, and hopefully, the demand and production of hemp jeans will continue to increase in the future.
Are hemp jeans a part of your wardrobe? Have you noticed any of the benefits for yourself? Tell us in the comments below!
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