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Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a crop that can be grown in temperate regions around the world. The crop can easily be grown organically, since it grows so fast that it smothers weeds whilst robustly shrugging off pests. As a locally grown, low input fibre crop hemp could make an important contribution to a sustainable future in our region. For centuries hemp was important in meeting our needs for textiles, paper and oils. Due to the apperance of alternative fibres, hemp cultivation declined in the beginning of the 20th century. In recent years hemp regained interest due to the sustainablility of the crop and high comfort of hemp fabrics.

Stextile Based on the succesful results of the Interreg IIIa project "Regional hemp textile chain" the company Stextile BV has been established in 2006. Stextile aims to develop a sustainable and commercially viable hemp production chain from farmer to fashion brand. The development of a commercial steam explosion facility will enable to refine locally grown hemp fibres. Stextile will work together with regional textile companies to spin the refined hemp fibres using highly efficient cotton spinning systems to produce 100% of hemp yarns or hemp yarns blended with other natural fibres like cotton. These yarns can be applied in various products like fashionable and ecological clothing, functional textiles for health care and home textiles.
Hemp Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a crop that can be grown in temperate regions around the world. The crop can easily be grown organically, since it grows so fast that it smothers weeds whilst robustly shrugging off pests. As a locally grown, low input fibre crop hemp could make an important contribution to a sustainable future in our region. For centuries hemp was important in meeting our needs for textiles, paper and oils. Due to the apperance of alternative fibres, hemp cultivation declined in the beginning of the 20th century. In recent years hemp regained interest due to the sustainablility of the crop and high comfort of hemp fabrics.
Textile chain Hemp is, like flax, a bast fibre crop, which means that is the fibres are contained in the stem. Bast fibres like flax fibres can be processed into textile yarns by wet and dry spinning. However this technology is declining in Europe. Cotton yarns are being produced by spinning on advanced short fibre spinning machines. Both spinning technologies are not suitable to spin hemp produced in Western Europe. In order to use the technological advanced short fibre spinning systems an additional refining step is required to be able to spin hemp fibres on these systems. This can be achieved by using steam explosion technology (STEX). Hemp fibres are treated with steam under high presure and subsequently released through a cyclone. STEX enables the production of special fibres which can be modified according to product requirements. Through adaptation of the process parameters, "tailor-made" fibres can be manufactured, which can be spun into new types of hemp yarn using cotton spinning systems.