HEMP Hemp cultivation is among the oldest industries on the planet, going back more than 10,000 years to the beginnings of pottery. The Columbia History of the World states that the oldest relic of human industry is a bit of hemp fabric dating back to approximately 8,000 BC.

Presidents Washington and Jefferson both grew hemp, and Americans were legally bound to grow it during the Colonial Era and Early Republic. The United States government subsidized hemp agriculture during World War II, and farmers grew about a million acres of hemp as part of that program.

Hemp is among the Earths longest natural soft fibers, which makes our clothing so special. Hemp fabric softens over time, which is sure to make your Sweetgrass clothing some of the most comfortable in your wardrobe.

Over 30 countries in the world grow hemp, yet here in the United States, it remains illegal. Though several states have passed legislation to legalize hemp cultivation, federal law classifying it as a Schedule I controlled substance keep those laws from going into effect. For more information about what you can do to help legalize industrial hemp, visit www.votehemp.com

ORGANIC COTTON Almost half of the agricultural herbicides and pesticides used on U.S. crops are applied to cotton, which is why Sweetgrass uses organic cotton in our products. Organic cotton has the same fiber strength, length and other properties as conventional cotton.

Organic agriculture utilizes alternatives to conventional chemicals to control pests and disease. Methods like intercropping and companion planting, where beneficial crops are grown next to each other, are just some examples. The qualities of one plant either provides nutrients, deters harmful insects, or attracts beneficial insects to the other. Cover crops are grown to build topsoil and replenish nutrients. Rather than destroying farmland as mono-cropping techniques do (growing one crop over a large area), organic farming actually improves the overall quality of the land.

According to the Sustainable Cotton Project, each it takes one-third of a pound of pesticides to produce one T-shirt. You do have a choice&buy organic!