A word by Harjas Singh, Co-founder & CEO, Reistor
Hemp - an ancient, often misunderstood plant - has been around forever. But somewhere along the way, it got pushed aside, even though it has so much to offer. When we started Reistor, we couldn’t help but ask: why? Why was this incredible material, with all its history and utility, not a bigger part of everyday fashion?
If you rewind a few years, Reistor’s journey actually started with hemp and one simple question: Could this be the future of sustainable fashion?
A curiosity that changed everything
Back in 2019, I had already spent nearly two decades in textiles - prints, fabrics, materials, you name it. My family’s been in this space for over 70 years, so I thought I’d seen it all. But hemp? That was completely new to me. I had never worked with it, never even really thought about it.
Then, on a spontaneous trip to the foothills of the Himalayas, I came across rows and rows of lush green hemp plants growing wildly. It doesn’t need any pesticides and uses hardly any water - just grows on its own. This was when I realised that this is a plant that doesn’t just survive in the wild without any proper care, but also flourishes, all while being one of the most sustainable crops out there.
I started digging deeper. I found out that the locals in the region had been using hemp fibers for generations - for medicine, fabric, ropes, and more. The more I learned, the more I realized this wasn’t just another fabric. It was strong, naturally resistant to pests, and required way less water than cotton. It felt like a hidden gem just waiting to be rediscovered.
That trip wasn’t just a fun discovery. It sparked an entire journey in both my personal and professional life - one that would eventually become a huge part of Reistor’s foundation.
Figuring out how to work with hemp
Excited by the possibilities, we got to work. However, in its raw form, hemp fiber wasn’t something that people would like to wear on a daily basis. It was coarse, harsh, and quite uncomfortable to touch. There was no way we could just spin it into fabric and expect it to feel good against the skin. It was going to take a long while to turn hemp into soft, wearable cloth that will stand the test of time and fashion. And that was quite a challenge.
So we started experimenting by blending hemp with softer fibers like Tencel™ to make it more comfortable without losing its strength. For six months, we tried every possible combination. Some blends were too stiff, others didn’t hold their shape.
Then came the dyeing issue. Hemp doesn’t absorb color evenly, so every batch looks different. We’d get one shade one day and a completely different one the next. It was a test of patience and, at times, a quiet kind of heartbreak—watching our efforts falter just when we thought we were close. But we refused to let setbacks define the journey and pressed on, determined to find a way.
After nearly nine months of trial and error, we finally got it right. The fabric was soft, durable, and had a beautiful texture. The entire process right from calendering, bio-enzyme treatments, to finishing was fine-tuned to make sure our hemp felt as luxurious as any high-end fabric, while still staying true to its sustainable roots.
Our first hemp collection
When it came time to launch our first collection, choosing hemp was a no-brainer. We had put in so much work to get the fabric just right, we wanted people to experience how amazing it could be!
The response? Honestly, it was better than we could have imagined. Our community of eco-conscious consumers really appreciated our efforts and loved how lightweight and breathable our hemp fabric was. The natural texture gave every piece a unique charm, and the fact that it was eco-friendly made it even more special.
What started as an experiment quickly became a signature part of Reistor. Hemp wasn’t just another fabric in our lineup, it gradually became part of our identity.
Expanding beyond hemp
Fast forward four years down the line, and Reistor has grown in incredible ways beyond our expectations. Every outfit we create is a labor of love, designed with intention and care. And it’s been truly heartening to see how warmly our community has embraced our evolving story.
Today, our collections go beyond just hemp. We work with six different eco-friendly fabrics, namely 100% organic cotton, linen, Bemberg™, Tencel™, and an eco-friendly modal. Each one was chosen for its sustainability and comfort, but hemp remains extra special to us.
Every hemp piece we make is a reminder of where we started, of the challenges we tackled to make sustainable fashion more accessible. And it’s proof that eco-friendly doesn’t mean boring or uncomfortable.
Why should you try hemp?
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The fabric is soft and breathable because we’ve made sure it feels as good as it looks.
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It’s eco-friendly, grows quickly, uses very little water, and needs no pesticides.
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Hemp is durable and resilient, meaning your clothes last long even with frequent usage.
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It keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
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When it’s time to retire your hemp pieces, they leave very little harmful impact behind since the fabric is biodegradable.
Looking back, I never would’ve guessed that a random trip to the Himalayas would lead to this. What started as pure curiosity turned into something much bigger, an entire movement toward conscious, mindful fashion.
At Reistor, we’re here to prove that sustainability and style go hand in hand. We want to create accessible options for our community so that nobody has to choose between looking good and making responsible fashion choices. You can have both.
So, if you haven’t tried hemp yet, now’s the time. Whether it’s a breezy dress, a chic top, or a versatile jumpsuit - our hemp pieces are made to be loved, worn, and lived in.
