A Brazil-based activist group said it will launch a book about hemp as a sustainable raw material for the textile industry next week.
Fashion Revolution Brazil (FRB) will introduce “Cânhamo é Revolução” (Hemp is Revolution) during FebraTêxtil 2025, a major trade show that brings together major brands in fashion and textile design. The event runs Feb. 18 to 20 in São Paulo.
The new book explores the versatility and ecological benefits of hemp, suggesting it is underutilized in Brazil despite its promise as an eco-friendly alternative in fabric production.
The book reflects a growing interest in innovative materials within the Brazilian textile industry, where hemp is increasingly seen as a viable option due to its durability and reduced environmental impact.
Problems with cotton
Brazil’s textile sector plays a crucial role in the country’s economy, generating more than $40 billion annually from 22,500 production units nationwide. About 1.3 million people hold formal jobs in the textile industry, with about 75% of those positions occupied by women.
Brazil is one of the world’s fastest-growing cotton producers over the last 25 years, and one of the leading global exporters of raw cotton. But cotton has been controversial due to concerns over the environmental impact of cotton farming, particularly in relation to deforestation in the Cerrado region in the central part of the country, an area considered crucial for the country’s ecosystem.
Investigations have linked cotton production to illegal land-grabbing, with brands like H&M and Zara found to source cotton from areas associated with deforestation. The expansion of cotton fields has been identified as a key driver of environmental degradation.
Turning point
“We are at a turning point where sustainability is no longer optional but a necessity,” said Eduarda Bastian a researcher specializing in materials, fibers, and sustainability in fashion. “Hemp offers an incredible opportunity to innovate responsibly.”
Bastain and Fernanda Simon, the executive director of Fashion Revolution Brazil will discuss innovation with hemp, and hemp’s potential in sustainability during a session at the FebraTêxtil event.
Global movement
Fashion Revolution is a global movement founded in 2013 following the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh, where the collapse of a building housing major clothing factories resulted in over 1,100 deaths. The organization seeks to raise awareness about the socio-environmental impacts of fashion and advocate for fairer, more sustainable practices.
The Brazil chapter has been active since 2014, mobilizing activists, academics, and industry professionals through campaigns, events, and projects aimed at transforming the fashion sector. By encouraging transparency and accountability, the movement challenges both consumers and brands to rethink the industry’s impact on people and the planet. The group’s’s focus on hemp reflects a broader shift within the textile industry toward promoting sustainable innovation.
FebraTêxtil 2025 is expected to showcase a range of initiatives that reflect a growing emphasis on environmental responsibility within the textile sector.
“We are committed to showing the industry these initiatives, which seek to meet market demands while preserving the environment,” Hélvio Pompeo Jr., of show organizer Febratex Group.