Look, I’ve been in this game long enough to know when a fabric trend is just hype—and when it’s the real deal. And hemp? This isn’t your college roommate’s patchouli-scented t-shirt phase. We’re talking about a material that’s tougher than denim, breathes like linen, and grows with a fraction of the water cotton needs. Last year alone, we saw three of our clients pivot entirely to hemp-based activewear lines—and two of them doubled their wholesale orders in under six months.
If you’re a startup founder, boutique brand owner, or even a sourcing manager tired of greenwashing and flimsy “eco” claims, this list is for you. I’m not here to sell you on sustainability for the sake of Instagram likes. I’m talking about profitable, scalable, durable hemp clothing production—with real margins, real quality control, and real market demand.
And if you’re wondering where to start, or how to avoid getting burned by MOQs that don’t match your cash flow, or how to spot which factories actually know their retting from their decortication—well, that’s why I’m writing this. Think of it like a late-night call from a mentor who’s been there, messed up, fixed it, and now wants to save you the same headaches.
At Fexwear, we’ve helped over 5,000 small brands source, design, and scale custom sportswear—including a growing number diving into hemp. We don’t manufacture everything in-house, but we’ve partnered with, audited, and shipped with nearly every type of factory out there. So when I tell you who’s legit and who’s just repackaging cotton as “hemp-blend,” I’m not guessing.
Let’s go.
Why Hemp Isn’t Just Another “Eco” Fad
I’ll be honest—when I first heard “hemp clothing,” I rolled my eyes. Sounded like another buzzword tossed around by influencers who’ve never handled a bolt of fabric. But then I got handed a sample from a client in Portland. No smell. No scratchiness. Just soft, structured, breathable fabric that didn’t stretch out after five washes.
Turns out, modern hemp processing has come a long way. No more sandpaper textures. Today’s hemp is blended, mercerized, and even enzyme-washed to feel like a cross between cotton and Tencel. And the durability? One of our partners ran a wear test: same design, same stitching, one in 100% cotton, one in 60% hemp / 40% organic cotton. After 30 washes, the cotton shirt was thinning at the elbows. The hemp blend? Still holding strong.
But here’s the catch: not all hemp is created equal.
I’ve seen factories in Southeast Asia advertise “hemp fabric” that’s actually 15% hemp, 85% rayon—basically just a marketing trick. And unless you’re asking for lab reports, you won’t know until it hits your QC team. That’s why certifications matter. GOTS, OEKO-TEX, FSC—these aren’t just stickers. They’re proof the fiber was grown, processed, and tested properly.
We’ve got a full breakdown of sustainable fabrics—including hemp—over in our fabric recommendations guide, complete with test methods and real-world performance data. Use it. Print it. Tape it to your desk.
Now, let’s talk about the actual manufacturers who can deliver this stuff at scale—without wrecking your timeline or budget.
Eileen Fisher – The High-End Benchmark
Let’s start with the big name: Eileen Fisher, based in New York. They’ve been around since 1984, and they’re not just selling clothes—they’re selling a philosophy. Minimalist silhouettes, timeless cuts, and a closed-loop recycling program that actually works.
I toured their facility back in 2019. What stood out wasn’t just the quality—it was the control. They own their supply chain from seed to shelf. They even have a take-back program where customers can return worn pieces, which are either resold as “Renew” line items or broken down into fiber for new garments.
Their key products? Think tanks and cardigans—simple, elegant, and built to last. But here’s the reality check: this isn’t a manufacturer for startups. Their MOQs are high, their lead times are long, and their pricing reflects a luxury brand.
One of our clients—a small womenswear brand in Austin—reached out wanting to partner with them for production. Got a reply: minimum 5,000 units per style, 6-month lead time, and they’d need to align with Eileen Fisher’s sustainability audit. Not impossible, but not realistic for most indie brands.
So if you’re building a premium, slow-fashion label with serious capital, Eileen Fisher sets the gold standard. Everyone else? Look elsewhere.
Royal Apparel – Innovation with a Price Tag
Royal Apparel, also in New York, is the kind of shop that makes designers drool. They specialize in blends—organic cotton with viscose hemp, hemp with Tencel, even hemp with recycled polyester. And they do it all in the USA.
I’ve worked with them on two custom runs—one for a yoga brand, one for a trail-running line. The fabric development was impressive. They’ll tweak the denier, adjust the twist in the yarn, even modify the dye process to reduce water use.
But—and this is a big but—their innovation comes at a cost. Custom development can take 8–12 weeks. And because they control every step in-house, they’re not the cheapest. One client paid $4.20 per yard for a 70/30 hemp-organic cotton blend. For comparison, we’ve sourced similar blends overseas for $2.80.
Still, if “American made hemp clothing” is your brand’s core message, and you’re okay with longer timelines and higher costs, Royal Apparel delivers. They’re also one of the few U.S.-based manufacturers that offer true customization—not just slapping your logo on a stock design, but building something unique from the ground up.
Just be ready to pay for it.
Fexwear – The Scalable Workhorse
Alright, let’s get real. I work at Fexwear, so I’m not pretending to be neutral here. But I will tell you what we’ve built, what we’ve learned, and why brands keep coming back.
We’re based in Wuhan, China—you can find our full contact details here —and we’ve been in the sportswear game for over a decade. We started with jerseys, then expanded into full custom activewear. But in the last three years, hemp has gone from a niche request to one of our fastest-growing categories.
Why? Because we’ve invested in it. Not just marketing. Real investment: sourcing partnerships with certified hemp farms in China and Eastern Europe, R&D on softening treatments, and dedicated production lines that don’t cross-contaminate with synthetic fibers.
Our MOQ? 300 units per design. That’s nothing in garment terms. One client—a college club in Ohio—ordered 350 hemp-blend track jackets. Another—a micro-influencer with 12K followers—launched a line of 500 hemp yoga pants. Both got full custom designs, free mockups, and delivery in under 4 weeks.
We’re not luxury. We’re not fast fashion. We’re the middle ground: high quality, low risk, fast turnaround.
And because we run our own factory, we can control QC at every stage. Every batch gets tested for GSM, stretch recovery, seam slippage—you name it. We even do random wash tests to make sure the fabric doesn’t pill or fade.
If you’re a small brand trying to scale, or a designer testing a new line, Fexwear is built for you. We’ve helped over 5,000 brands like yours get from sketch to shipment. And if you’re serious, just reach out. We’ll walk you through it.
Tentree – Where Sustainability Meets Marketing
Tentree, out of Vancouver, Canada, is a brand that gets a lot of attention. And for good reason: they plant ten trees for every item sold. Over 100 million trees planted to date. That’s not a typo.
They use hemp, organic cotton, REPREVE, and other sustainable materials. Their designs are clean, outdoorsy, and very Instagrammable.
But here’s the thing I’ve noticed: Tentree isn’t really a manufacturer. They’re a brand that contracts manufacturing. So if you’re looking to partner with them as a supplier, it’s not straightforward. You’d be working through their supply chain partners, not directly with Tentree.
Still, they’re worth watching. Their success proves there’s demand for eco-conscious apparel. One of our clients studied their bestsellers—hoodies, crewnecks, joggers—and replicated the fabric specs (60% hemp, 40% organic cotton) at a lower price point. Sold out in two weeks.
So while you can’t exactly “partner” with Tentree to make your line, you can learn from them. Their model works because they’re consistent, transparent, and emotionally resonant.
If you’re building a brand with a mission, take notes.
Bohempia – Vegan, Barefoot, and Niche
Bohempia, based in Prague, is… different. They make vegan, barefoot shoes and apparel from hemp. And I mean barefoot—shoes with zero drop, no arch support, designed to mimic going barefoot.
Their hemp fabric is soft, antimicrobial, and hypoallergenic. We tested a sample last year—passed all our OEKO-TEX checks, and the moisture-wicking was solid.
But here’s the catch: their focus is extremely niche. If you’re building a mainstream activewear brand, Bohempia’s aesthetic might be too minimalist, too “crunchy.” One client sent us a quote request after seeing them online—got back a 6-month lead time and a MOQ of 1,000 units per style.
Still, for brands targeting the vegan, zero-waste, barefoot community? Bohempia is legit. They’re PETA-certified, use eco-friendly dyes, and their supply chain is fully traceable.
Just know you’re not going mass-market with them.
Hemptopia – Durable, Functional, No Fluff
Hemptopia, in Oregon, is one of the OGs of American hemp clothing. Started in 2005, they’ve built a reputation for tough, functional apparel. Think workwear meets outdoor gear.
Their men’s and women’s lines are simple: hemp pants, shirts, jackets. Nothing flashy. But the fabric? Thick, durable, and UV-resistant. We did a field test with a construction crew in Arizona—same design, half in cotton, half in Hemptopia’s 100% hemp shirt. After two months, the cotton was frayed at the cuffs. The hemp? Still intact.
They’re not the cheapest—retail prices hover around $80 for a shirt—but if you’re building a brand around durability and sustainability, they’re a solid reference point.
MOQs are mid-range: 500 units per style, 12-week lead time. Not impossible, but not for quick drops.
The Hemp Trading Co. – Ethics First
The Hemp Trading Co. (THTC), London-based, is all about ethics. Vegan Society certified, Best Buy rating from Ethical Consumer, and a supply chain audited down to the farm level.
Their bestsellers? Hemp t-shirts and bamboo blends. Simple, classic, and built to last.
I’ve seen their fabric specs—we matched one of their 55% hemp / 45% organic cotton blends for a client using our suppliers. Same GSM, same hand feel, 20% lower cost.
THTC isn’t focused on innovation. They’re focused on doing things right. And that has value.
But again, they’re a brand, not a contract manufacturer. So you can’t hire them to make your line. But you can study their approach to sourcing, labeling, and transparency.
Outerknown – Sustainable by Design
Outerknown, founded in 2014 and based in New York, is surfwear with a conscience. They use hemp, organic cotton, and recycled fibers across their line.
What sets them apart? Their ECONYL® and hemp blends are performance-grade. Not just for lounging—these are fabrics that can handle saltwater, sun, and sand.
We worked with a client who reverse-engineered one of their board shorts—ended up with a 70/30 hemp-PBT blend that performed just as well, at half the cost.
Outerknown’s model is proof that sustainable doesn’t mean weak. But like Tentree and THTC, they’re not a factory you can partner with directly.
Still, their fabric choices? Gold standard.
WAMA – The Hemp Underwear Game-Changer
WAMA, out of California, is doing something no one else is: hemp underwear.
And not just boxers and briefs—they’ve cracked the code on softness, stretch, and breathability. Their fabric is 70% hemp, 30% spandex, and it works.
We tested it: moisture-wicking better than cotton, odor-resistant even after three wears (don’t ask how we tested that), and no shrinkage after 10 washes.
MOQ is 500 units per style, which is reasonable. Lead time is 8–10 weeks.
If you’re looking to enter the intimate apparel space with a sustainable angle, WAMA is the blueprint.
One client copied their cut and fabric blend—launched on Shopify, sold 2,000 pairs in six weeks.
Yeah, it’s that good.
Quick Reality Check: MOQs, Lead Times, and Certifications
Look, I’ve thrown a lot at you. So here’s a table—real numbers, based on our client orders and factory audits—so you can compare.
This isn’t theory. This is what we’ve seen, shipped, and QC’d.
Alright, I’m beat. It’s 11 PM, and I’ve got a sample shipment coming in tomorrow from our hemp knit supplier. If you’re still reading this, you’re serious. And I respect that.
Just remember: hemp isn’t magic. It’s a material. A good one. But it still needs the right partners, the right specs, and the right execution.
So don’t just pick a manufacturer because they say “eco.” Ask for lab reports. Demand swatches. Test wash them.
Then call us. We’ll help you figure the rest out.
FAQs
Is American made hemp clothing better?
Not automatically. U.S. factories have tighter labor and environmental laws, sure. But we’ve seen better consistency from EU and Asian suppliers with proper audits. “Made in USA” is a marketing win, but it doesn’t guarantee quality.
Can I get hemp clothing for under $3 per yard?
Yes, but only if you’re doing 5K+ units and using a blend (like 50/50 hemp-cotton). Pure hemp? Closer to $4.50. And that’s before shipping.
Do all hemp fabrics feel rough?
Nope. That was 2010. Modern processing—especially enzyme washing and blending with Tencel—makes it soft. We had a client who didn’t believe us until they touched a sample. Changed their whole line.
How do I verify a factory’s hemp claims?
Ask for a certificate of authenticity from the fiber supplier, plus a GOTS or GRS audit report. Then run a burn test on a swatch. Real hemp burns like paper, smells like grass, and leaves a fine ash.
Why do some hemp clothes shrink?
Usually because they’re not pre-shrunk. Always insist on pre-washing, especially for blends. We had a client lose 12% of a batch to shrinkage—never again.
Can I do sublimation printing on hemp?
Only if it’s blended with polyester. 100% hemp? No. Stick to screen printing or embroidery. We’ve got a full guide on fabric recommendations for sportswear with print methods.