Vancouver-based Hemptown Clothing and the National Research Council (NRC) announced a partnership in producing a new, low cost and environmentally sensitive hemp fabric called Crailar which can be an alternative to the US$25 billion cotton industry.

The new technology will produce millions of bales of organic, fluffy white fiber, projected to cost less than regular cotton. In addition to economic benefits, Crailar is highly environmentally sensitive, grown organically without the use of pesticides or the enormous fresh water irrigation required by conventional cotton.

Initial Crailar technology licensing and a production mill in Craik, Saskatchewan are planned for 2006-2007, with clothing products and raw fabric anticipated to start shipping to department stores in Spring 2007.

According to the Saskatchewan Hemp Association, more than 2,500 hectares of hemp were grown in Canada last year.

Textile.2456.com