Hemp and linen are two of the most versatile plant-based fibers in the textile world. Both naturally wick moisture, resist bacteria, and offer excellent thermal regulation thanks to their hollow fiber structure – making them ideal for summer garments and blends with cotton, lyocell, or recycled synthetics.
While linen is celebrated for its light, airy feel and classic summer wear applications, hemp stands out for its strength and durability, making it perfect for bags, shoes, upholstery, and even apparel. Nearly every part of the linen plant is used for fibers, whereas hemp generates more residual biomass – which can be further processed into hemp lyocell, as done by Hempfortex.
Both crops are highly sustainable: they require up to 80–90% less water than cotton and thrive without pesticides or fertilizers. Remarkably, hemp can even be carbon-positive, absorbing significant amounts of CO₂ during growth – far more than linen or cotton. With such properties, hemp and linen are not only natural performance fibers but also essential allies on the journey toward a more sustainable, climate-conscious textile industry.
So have a look at our hemp- and linen fabric highlights from The Loop, chosen from our material-experts at PERFORMANCE DAYS.
"H is for HEMP"
Hemp has already played a starring role at PERFORMANCE DAYS – most notably during the Spring 2022 edition, where the versatile fiber took center stage. Back then, German photographer and climate impact storyteller Maren Krings captivated audiences with insights from her global journey documenting the rediscovery of industrial hemp across four continents. Her book “H is for HEMP” compellingly showcases the fiber’s vast potential – a story she also shares in an interview with PERFORMANCE DAYS here.
Today, hemp has firmly established itself as a go-to fiber in the performance sector – a fact confirmed by top brands and suppliers, like Maloja, Salewa, Hanfliebe, Felde Fibres and Natuvalis.