Hemp, bamboo, and cotton have all been frowned upon for the way they are used. They have all be perceived one way, when really they are completely different. I do believe they play a large role in the apparel industry, however; I do not think that many people know what the fiber is they are really buying.

According to Hemp: Historic Fiber Remains Controversial, hemp is one of the most versatile and desirable fibers in the world, today. It is also a very popular fiber used in the apparel and interior industry now and has been since the 28^th century B.C. Since 1996, hemp fibers have been in high demand whether it be yarn or woven fabrics but the only way to get it to the United States is to import the fiber. Now, Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani, and Ralph Lauren have started using hemp in many of their products and are hoping to start this trend for other designers to follow. The popularity of this fiber will only continue to grow. Environmentalist and farmers are jumping on the band-wagon with the designers as well.  The network of “hempsters” is also encouraging them to support their fight in legalizing the fiber. Hemp has been compared to cotton but hemp grows without pesticides or chemicals and is also grown faster than cotton. Hemp also beat cotton with a greater tear and tensile strength.

Although this fiber has many positive characteristics to it, it also has a huge negative one. This sounds just like every other fiber we have discussed. The negative side of hemp is that it is believed to be a source for the marijuana plant.  Since it is illegal, farmers cannot grow the plant, even if they wish too. Importing the fiber is very expensive for the United States to buy, therefore; it is expensive for consumers to purchase a pair of shoes that has the controversial hemp fiber in them. I understand how harmful this fiber can be to human beings, but if farmers had some sort regulations on growing the plant the dangers could potentially be eliminated. Legalizing the hemp fiber could be better for our economy. We would not be giving our money to other countries; we would be giving to our own.

Hemp is not the only fiber that has positive and negative characteristics, bamboo does too. Are you Being Bamboozled tells us that bamboo textiles are known to be misleading. The truth about bamboo fibers is that it usually is not bamboo, it is rayon.  Bamboo is a natural fiber, whereas rayon is a manufactured fiber. Manufacturers are misleading their consumers and making them believe they are buying a natural fiber. Are you Being Bamboozled also informs us that there are no real traces of bamboo in a finished rayon product. Rayon fibers use toxic chemicals which causes’ hazardous air pollution. Federal Regulations says, “it must be labeled and advertised using the proper generic name for the fiber, rayon, or “rayon made from bamboo.” Rayon is a manufactured fiber, and according to Fabric Manufacturers, it is strong, durable, and extremely absorbent. Rayon is a popular fiber, but needs to be truthful about their products to their consumers and not misleading them. This is where the controversy begins. Consumers need to be more conscious of product labeling and less vulnerable to advertisement.

Cotton, like bamboo and hemp, also has its positives and negatives. Many believe that organic is the answer, but few know how hard it is to actually become a successful organic cotton grower. Controversy Broiling; GM Cotton Against Organic tells us how genetically modified cotton is being put on the market as organic cotton. After this debacle, they decided to come up with a Third Party Certification system, which has become the system for guaranteeing organic products for world trade. Now that they have no tolerance for fraudulent organic cotton, they have become stricter on who grows this fiber. This certification has made it hard for small organic producers to be certified because of the qualifications that have to be met because they do not want that to happen to them again. They have come up with a small farmers association called Chetna Organic Farmers Association, which is supported by the United States eco centres for utilization of manure. Chetna claims its philosophy rises about a certification, it is reflected more in practice than just in paper. The Chetna Organic Farmers Association has proven that it is reliable and dependable, worldwide. Organic cotton does not only have a large support group, it is also more sustainable than natural cotton. It may be hard to be an organic cotton grower, but it has been proven by the Chetna association that it is possible to do. Cotton has a very high demand, but I feel like 100% organic cotton, not genetically modified cotton, could be in high demand as well. We just have to know where the organic cotton is coming from and if it is from a dependable source, like Chetna Organic Farmers Association.

Hemp, bamboo, and cotton are all different from each other. Yet, each one of them gets misused. Hemp gets used for marijuana, bamboo gets used for misleading rayon labels, and organic cotton gets misused for genetically modified cotton. Consumers need to become more educated on what fibers they are buying and where they are grown. They all have their positives and negatives but we should focus on which ones are 100% organic and if the label reads correctly.