Hemp-based Fabric for Military Uniforms

Hemp fibers have been used in textile applications for thousands of years, but have been limited to textiles for home furnishing, rope, sacks, and other non-clothing textile applications. However, new treatment methods for hemp fibers to improve their hand, as well hemp’s general softening properties with time and wear, make these fibers attractive for use in performance clothing due to hemp’s superior water absorbency, breathability, and durability as compared to cotton. Due to these advantages, the Marine Corps are exploring the development of a hemp-based fabric that could be used for Military uniforms, specifically the Marine Corp Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU). These development efforts complement the Marine Corp’s goal of eliminating multiple fielded uniforms for soldiers and the development of a single uniform that can be used by soldiers in all scenarios. In this Phase I effort, TDA research will develop a novel hemp-based fabric that can be used for Military uniforms, taking advantage of all the performance properties hemp offers. The uniform will meet or exceed all of the current MCCUU specifications as detailed in MIL-PRF-MCCUU E using a hemp-based fabric, without sacrificing the current comfort level.