Gloria Gubianas and Alex Pastrana are the founders of Hemper – a fashion project launched in 2015 and working to contribute to Nepal’s social and environmental wealth. The process begins in the mountains of the western villages of Nepal, where hemp has been handled for centuries. In these villages, rural families grow and harvest it. Then, it is boiled to obtain the inner fibres that are later attached to each other forming the yarn. The yarn is taken to Kathmandu, particularly to a community of low-income families. 

 In these families, women are in charge of washing the yarn and get it prepared for crafting. When it is ready, using a traditional loom, the yarn is interlaced, forming the fabrics. Later on, the process continues in Budhanilkantha, where tailors craft the final backpack. The central core where our backpack production takes place is in a community located in the neighbourhood of Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu. The brand has a BCorp seal that certifies its activities positively - socially, environmentally, and economically.

Why Hemp?

Hemper uses hemp as raw material, one of the most sustainable fibres on the planet. Only 200-500 litres of water are used to produce 1kg of dried hemp. On the other hand, 10 times more is needed to produce 1kg of cotton. It is the plant with the most O2 regeneration power. 

 Contrary to many other companies that turn hemp into fabric through a chemical-intensive process, our creator does this organically through a mechanical process that requires no chemicals.

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