THE POWER OF// "HEMP." by Kelly Mason

Hemp as a material is an extreamly eco friendly crop, it requires no pesticides and requires little water and has recently been labelled as a 'Miricle fibre'...

No longer are the days when we look like 1960's hippies if you wanted to dress in materials like hemp, silk & quality cottons. In the 2000's we all walking around in all of our rough, bright coloured hemp clothing but have now stepped into a new age, we have now stepped into a time of high end, elegant, sofisticated fashion using these material and I could not be more excited to be involved with some of the many new brands who use these materials - in particular organic hemp, sourced from India.

One of my favourite designers here in Goa "FARA BOUTIQUE" has been the man inspiration for me writing this post...

Im hooked! Im on the band wagen! I am embracing it fully and the way that it is revolutionising not only the clothing industry but the medical industry as we know it and i'd like to fill you in a little more about this wonderous miricle of a plant!!

What better way to share my excitement than writing about why we should be celebrating this wonderful plant, her benefits and why to choose this material that is already making huge shifts in the fashion industy and why slow fashion and ethical fashion is the new black!

A BRIEF HISTORY OF HEMP

Actually Hemp as a material has been used for 10,000 years - Hemp has been found in textiles, in paper and medicine.

The big shift that happened when it came to producing products from Hemp was during the 1930's when "Evil" Weed and its name was spread around the world and Hemp took the hit.

It wasnt until 2014 when a lift was taken from banning the production of Hemp and it was this that has resulted in these innovative producers of Hemp popping up all over America.

26 and more states across the US had legalised Hemp for production!

THE MANY FORMS OF HEMP

BENEFITS OF USING HEMP AS A MEDICINE

* Recudes Acne

* Helps to impove conditions like ADD and ADHD

* Alzheimer’s

* Anxiety

* Autism

* Bipolar

* Cancer

* Digestive Issues

* Depression

* Diabetes

* Endocrine Disorders

* Epilepsy and Seizures

* Glaucoma

* Heart Disease

* Inflammation

* Irritable Bowel Syndrome

* Kidney Disease / Liver Disease

* Migraine

* Mood Disorders

* Motion Sickness

* Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

* Osteoporosis/Bone Health

* Parkinson’s Disease

* PTSD

* Sickle Cell Anemia

* Skin Conditions

* Sleep Disorders

* Stress

* Stroke

HEMP AS A COSMETIC

Hemp can be used in so many natural beauty products and skin care ranges such as...

Soaps

Shampoos

Lip Balms

Body butters

Deoderants

The benefits on the skin...

Reduces acne, psoriasis, inflammation,pain and pimples.

We should always remember that what we put on our skin actually feeds our skin and goes into the blood steam that runs throughout our bodies so its always beneficial to not only suppoer independant, organic and ethical companies but to purchase the nearest to purest if not purest from befoe any processing to apply diretly onto the skin and store well.

For my body I use Aloe vera gel. I buy good quality 100% Aloe and I keep it stored in the fridge. Aloe in itself has many benefits and it hydrates, calms and smooths the skin - remember the skin is the largest organ of the body. It breathes, it needs lightness and not to have heavy dense chemically rich body butters clogging and restricting the thousands of pours that make up our skin.

Aloe is a whole other write up within itself, for now, back to Hemp...

HEMP AS FOOD

Hemp oil

Hemp insulation is an excellent ecological substitute for glass and stone wool and has similar insulating properties as the latter.

Hemp seeds

Hemp seeds were mainly used as a food for the poor and animals.

Because seeds can have many beneficial effects, rich people started consuming them.

Nowadays, we can find hemp seeds in numerous households, restaurants and market shelves.

Hemp seeds can be shelled or unshelled.

Today, they are mainly used as an additive to various foods, salads, smoothis and deserts.

Hemp seeds can be roasted, germinated and eaten as fresh sprouts, or we can even prepare hemp milk from them however it could become expensive!

Hemp seeds are rich in omega-fatty acids, proteins, dietary fiber, minerals and vitamins, and offer similar therapeutic potential.

Hemp tea

Cannabis tea is mainly used for its beneficial effects and pleasant relaxation.

Hemp flour / Hemp protien

Hemp flour and hemp protein are both made from hemp seeds - it's a byproduct of cold pressing the hemp seeds for making oil.

This is packed with protein, dietary fibers, vitamins and minerals.

With further processing of hemp seed we can make one of its most refined versions - hemp flour.

When we continue this process again and again it results his leaves us a rich protein – hemp protein powder.

HEMP AS A FIBRE

Organic production of Hemp does not require any pesticides, herbicides or artificial fertilizers for growth.

It cleans and maintains soil moisture.

It is considered to be an excellent renewable resource as it's life cycle lasts only a few months.

Breathableness and protection - It's an excellent choice during the summer, as hemp fibre breathes, absorbs moisture and protects us from UV rays.

Reference & Further readings visit : https://hempika.com/hemp-101/

For the last six years I have tried, where I can, to purchase and consume the things of quality instead of quantity. Sometimes I find at times this still doesnt happen always and I have learnt not to be too hard on myself when I fall short on the new awareness I have gained over the last few years about what I am actually supporting when I purchase, where I want to invest myself, what ethics and Philosophies I want to support and what kind of a world it is that I actually want to be apart of and be proud to be apart of.

If I find that the environment in which I am in doesnt support or permit, along with the circumstance of being in a rush and the alternative being more convenient at times, then yes I still at times, but only the minority of times, fall back into old, slightly less conscious acts of purchasing. But 9 times from 10 I try to take a moment taking care when it comes to where I purchase and what companies I choose to buy from therefor choose to support.

When it comes to the food that I purchase, the produce I work with on retreats to what I have stocked in my own plant based pantry at home. I try to take care.

When it comes to what I use on my body I like to buy from organic & vegan companies ensuring that what I am supporting is supporting a right cause with minimal harmful impact in the creation of the products I have and use daily.

When it comes to the clothes I wear on my back, the clothes I promote I try to ensure the materials have been sourced ethically, the work to make them into pieces has been done ethially and I try to support by purchasing natural, high quality materials.

Whether it be what companies I choose to work with or choose to collaborate with (whether it be the yoga studio I teach in or the intent behind the companies I support with my skills of cooking or through my art works) I am continuously trying to surround myself, my actions, my time and my investments in consciously driven and ethical intents.

This is a reflection of choices that have arrived me to his point within my life. To what my professions are and who I work with and support.

It brings me to this time in my life that I have ventured slightly outside of my normal fields to support, for a few months at the very least, slow, ethical & sustainable fashion and writing this article has been apart of the intent to support.

The brands work with ethically sourced, organic cottons, RAW silks and hemp materials within their designs and I couldnt be happier being support to females owning the new movement of conscious fashion so well.

Now is the time for us to start choosing slow fashion, artisan crafts and ethical sustainable companies by switching over to the act of more conscious consuming...

To here more about the two brands I am supporting this season check out FARA Boutique & Studio Tia 's stories and collections online.