Quote Originally Posted by Pleater
I'd be intersted to hear if anyone has experience of a hemp or hemp mixture kilt.

The true canvas (hemp=canabis sativas) was/is very hard wearing and I have been told that it used to be mixed with linen to reduce the creasing in wear of the cloth.

Linen is an absolute nightmare for creasing as it is worn.

Now that hemp fibre is becoming easier to source, here in the UK at least, there is hemp knitting yarn, so I hope to be able to get hold of true canvas (not just a heavy cotton cloth) but that will probably not be for some time.

It is a very superior cloth, and was used throughout Europe for shirts. There are tales of American soldiers destroying hemp plants as they went through Europe in WWII oblivious to its use for clothing - plants grown outside have very little drug content. There were different grades of plant carefully selected to provide different qualities of fibre, some for very fine clothing, some for ropes and others for weaving working cloth such as sails and bale covering and the base for carpets.

I believe it has always been grown under licence and used for banknote paper here, and it is a less ecologically demanding crop than cotton, requiring less fertiliser, pesticide and water, with the additional advantage - to us, that it can be grown in the UK.
I make a kilts out of 100% hemp and a 60-40 hemp cotton blend. Of my cloth kilts it is the one I wear most often. It has a 55UV rating if that is one of your concerns. It has a linen feel to it, and after a number of washings it is rather soft yet durable. Drawbacks...colour options is one. I have a supply in Black but tends to fade, the first washing needs a couple of tablespoons of salt added to the water to set the colour. Or I can get it in natural and one can dye it to the colour of ones choice. It is more expensive to aquire the fabric but very durable. Has a good swish factor. Holds a press but does wrinkle. I've also built a kilt out of gortex with favourable results, however I like the hemp the best for comfort.
Cheers
Robert