One might associate hemp rugs with the hippies of the '60s, but hemp is actually one of the earliest known domesticated plants. Cultivated by civilizations across the globe, one might say that the century of the hemp carpet has arrived, only 12,000 years in the making. Hemp area rugs have something in common with copies of the Declaration of Independence written on hemp paper, and the first American flags were made out of hemp fiber - hemp is part of our natural heritage!
Hemp is still a popular, durable and eco-friendly "super fiber" that's used in various hemp rugs that are either 100% hemp or blends with wool or a mix of natural fibers. Hemp rugs may be more golden brown, yet acts a lot like linen rugs. The color of a hemp carpet softens with age and each washing. Just as one finds with cotton, a hemp rug breathes well - great for a hot or humid climate - and is famously durable.
A hemp rug is an eco-friendly choice using less water than needed for production of cotton, the most common fiber used in the foundation of rugs. A hemp area rug might be composed of 100 percent hemp products but are commonly blended with other organic fibers, such as flax, cotton, linen, viscose, or natural silk. Hemp rugs are eight times stronger than cotton rugs, and one only has to think of the use of hemp rope in sailing, construction, farming and many other uses to realize that as one of the toughest fibers we depend on it for many duties.
A hemp area rug is often recommended for warm, humid climates, because the fabric resists mildew and absorbs moisture. Fabrics made from pure hemp are also hypo-allergenic and thus non-irritating to the skin apart from being more tactile in terms of texture.
