Hemp

Hemp is a plant-based bast fibre that has been used for clothing and household items since ancient times. The fibre is strong yet lightweight, has excellent breathability and moisture absorption, and provides a refreshing feeling to the skin. The more it is used, the more the fibres become flexible and blend together, creating a natural lustre and a texture with depth.

It requires almost no chemical fertilisers or pesticides and can be grown with only rainfall, which reduces water consumption for irrigation. Its short growth cycle also contributes to absorbing greenhouse gases and conserving soil, and it is highly regarded as a sustainable material.

In Japan, the word “asa” (麻) traditionally referred to cannabis, but today it’s used as a general term for bast fibres harvested from flax (linen), ramie, and cannabis (hemp).

In Japanese history, hemp has been deeply rooted in people’s lives since ancient times, with pieces of hemp fibre discovered in ruins from the early Jomon period. It is used for shrine shimenawa and sumo ropes, and before the Edo period, hemp and ramie were the main fibres until cotton became popular. Flax became widespread after the Meiji period, and production became a licence system with the establishment of the Cannabis Control Act after World War II, so industrial-scale cultivation is now almost nonexistent in Japan. For this reason, MITTAN mainly uses hemp from Heilongjiang Province, China, which has excellent quality and traceability.

MITTAN continues to incorporate hemp materials, focusing on the ancient background, excellent functionality, and low environmental impact.