Hemp vs Cotton Fabric: Everything You Need to Know Before Buying

In today’s textile industry, sustainability is no longer an option—it’s a necessity. With growing environmental concerns and conscious consumerism, fashion brands and manufacturers are shifting toward eco-friendly fabrics. Among the most widely discussed natural fabrics are hemp and cotton, both with long histories in textiles and significant roles in shaping sustainable fashion.

At Radhey Krishna Cotweaving, we manufacture both hemp fabric and 100% cotton fabric, offering buyers versatile options tailored to their needs. With certifications like GOTS, OCS 100, OCS Blended, and GRS, along with advanced weaving capabilities, we deliver fabrics that meet international standards while supporting a greener planet.

In this blog, we’ll explore Hemp vs Cotton fabric, analyse their properties, applications, and costs, and guide you on choosing the right fabric for your business.

What is Hemp Fabric?

Hemp fabric is made from the stalk fibres of the Cannabis sativa plant, a crop known for its minimal environmental footprint. Hemp has been used for centuries in ropes, sails, and garments due to its strength and durability. Today, it is regaining popularity in sustainable textiles.

Hemp requires little water, grows quickly without pesticides, and even replenishes soil nutrients. Its fibres are naturally long and strong, resulting in a fabric that is durable, breathable, antibacterial, and biodegradable.

At Radhey Krishna Cotweaving, we manufacture hemp fabrics in 40% hemp and 60% cotton blends, available in GSM ranges of 130–200 and widths from 48 to 71 inches. Buyers can also opt for GOTS-certified organic cotton blends, ensuring sustainability and traceability at every step.

What is Cotton Fabric?

Cotton fabric is the world’s most widely used natural textile, produced from the fluffy fibres surrounding cotton plant seeds. Cotton has been integral to global clothing and home textiles for centuries due to its softness, breathability, and affordability.

Cotton fabrics vary greatly:

1. Conventional cotton – widely used, affordable, but resource-intensive.

    

2. Organic cotton – grown without pesticides and certified sustainable.

    

3. Recycled cotton – made from pre- or post-consumer waste, reducing textile waste.

    

At Radhey Krishna Cotweaving, we specialise in 100% cotton fabrics, including greige, organic, and recycled cotton. Our range covers multiple GSM weights, widths, and weave patterns to suit both domestic and international buyers.

Radhey Krishna Cotweaving’s Hemp & Cotton Fabric Specs

What sets us apart is not just the production but the precision in specifications:

1. GSM Range: We manufacture fabrics ranging from lightweight 50 GSM to heavy-duty 500 GSM, ensuring versatility across diverse textile applications.

    

2. Width Options: Fabric widths range from 26 inches (66 cm) to 148 inches (375 cm), suitable for apparel, upholstery, and industrial uses.

    

3. Weaves: Our expertise includes canvas, twill, satin, Oxford, herringbone, duck, leno, waffle, ripstop, and intricate dobby design fabrics.

    

4. Certifications: We hold GOTS, OCS 100, OCS Blended, and GRS certifications, guaranteeing authenticity, sustainability, and international buyer trust.

    

5. Packaging: Fabrics are supplied in vacuum-sealed rolls up to 500 meters or bale packing, maintaining freshness and shipment efficiency.

    

6. Quality: Every meter undergoes inline and roll-to-roll inspection using the American 4-Point System, ensuring global quality compliance consistently.

This combination of technical capability and certification-backed credibility ensures that our hemp and cotton fabrics meet stringent global quality standards.

Hemp vs Cotton Fabric: A Detailed Comparison

To make an informed decision, let’s break down Hemp vs Cotton fabric across key dimensions:

Hemp Fabric Properties vs Cotton Fabric Properties

Hemp Fabric Properties

1. Durability: Hemp fabric is exceptionally durable, with strong tensile fibres that resist wear, ensuring garments and textiles last significantly longer.
   
   
2. Antibacterial: Hemp naturally resists bacteria, mould, and odours, making it hygienic and suitable for apparel, home furnishings, and eco-friendly accessories.
   
   
3. Eco-Friendly: Hemp farming requires minimal water, no pesticides, and actively improves soil health, making hemp one of Earth’s greenest fabrics.
   
   
4. Breathability: Hemp fabric promotes airflow while wicking away moisture, keeping wearers dry and comfortable, particularly in hot and humid climates.
   
   
5. Softness: Initially coarser than cotton, hemp fabric softens after each wash, offering increasing comfort without sacrificing its long-lasting durability.
   
   
6. Thermal Balance: Hemp adapts well across seasons, keeping wearers warm in winter and cool during summer, ensuring year-round textile comfort.
   
   

Cotton Fabric Properties

1. Softness: Cotton fabric is naturally soft, providing unmatched comfort against the skin, which is why it dominates everyday apparel worldwide.

    

2. Breathability: Cotton absorbs sweat while allowing airflow, making it perfect for warm climates where comfort and freshness are highly valued.

    

3. Versatility: Cotton is highly versatile, used in fashion, home furnishings, industrial fabrics, and countless textile applications across global industries.

    

4. Affordability: Cotton remains more affordable than hemp, making it accessible to manufacturers and consumers while balancing cost with reliable textile quality.

    

5. Biodegradability: Cotton is a natural fibre that decomposes easily, leaving no harmful residue, making it environmentally safe compared to synthetics.

    

6. Variations: Cotton fabrics include conventional, organic, and recycled options, giving buyers flexibility based on sustainability goals and budgetary preferences.
   

Which is Better: Hemp or Cotton?

The answer depends on your needs:

1. Choose Hemp if: you want durability, antibacterial qualities, and sustainable credentials.
   
   
2. Choose Cotton if: you need affordability, softness, and widespread availability.
   
   
3. Choose a Hemp-Cotton Blend if: you want the best of both worlds—durability plus comfort, eco-friendly yet affordable.

    

Why Choose Radhey Krishna Cotweaving for Hemp and Cotton Fabrics?

As a family-owned company based in Kishangarh, Rajasthan, Radhey Krishna Cotweaving has built expertise in manufacturing both hemp and 100% cotton fabrics.

1. Manufacturing Scale: With modern looms and 150 skilled employees, we produce large-scale fabric volumes while maintaining consistent quality and innovation.
   
   
2. Certifications: We provide GOTS, OCS 100, OCS Blended, and GRS certifications, ensuring our fabrics meet strict international sustainability standards.
   
   
3. Global Standards: Our fabrics comply with American, Australian, and British benchmarks, ensuring reliability and trust for global buyers and importers.
   
   
4. Diversity: We manufacture greige, organic, recycled, and hemp-cotton blend fabrics across multiple weaves, catering to versatile industry requirements worldwide.
   
   
5. Customer Trust: We prioritise ethical sourcing, transparent processes, and complete traceability, building long-term partnerships with global textile buyers and brands.

Whether you need pure cotton, pure hemp, or blends, we provide fabrics tailored to your brand’s sustainability goals.

Applications of Hemp and Cotton Fabrics

Hemp Applications

1. Eco-fashion apparel: Hemp fabrics are ideal for eco-fashion, offering sustainable options for shirts, trousers, jackets, and casual wear collections worldwide.
   
   
2. Home textiles: Durable hemp fabrics are excellent for curtains, upholstery, and table linens, combining sustainability with long-lasting strength.
   
   
3. Sustainable accessories: Hemp creates strong, eco-friendly tote bags, backpacks, and lifestyle accessories that appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
   
   
4. Industrial fabrics: Hemp produces durable canvas, ropes, and sails, offering sustainable solutions for heavy-duty industrial and commercial applications.

    

Cotton Applications

1. Everyday wear: Cotton dominates apparel markets with t-shirts, shirts, and dresses, offering breathable comfort and widespread consumer appeal.
   
   
2. Home textiles: Cotton fabrics are widely used for bedsheets, pillow covers, and towels, making homes comfortable, fresh, and stylish.
   
   
3. Industrial uses: Strong cotton textiles like denim and canvas are used in uniforms, workwear, and durable industrial fabric applications.

    

Blended Applications

1. Fashion garments: Hemp-cotton blends deliver stylish garments with combined softness, durability, and sustainability, meeting modern eco-conscious fashion needs.
   
   
2. Workwear: Hemp-cotton blends make breathable yet durable workwear, ideal for industries requiring comfort without sacrificing garment strength.
   
   
3. Home furnishings: Blended fabrics create eco-conscious curtains, upholstery, and linens, balancing performance with sustainability for contemporary households.
   
   

Certifications & Quality Standards

At Radhey Krishna Cotweaving, certifications are more than labels—they’re proof of trust:

1. GOTS: Ensures organic cotton content, ethical practices, and environmentally safe processes across our sustainable fabric production line.
   
   
2. OCS 100 & OCS Blended: Verifies organic raw materials in fabrics, providing transparency for buyers demanding sustainable and certified textiles.
   
   
3. GRS: Guarantees recycled fabric authenticity, promoting circular economy principles and reducing environmental footprint in textile production.

Every meter undergoes inline and roll-to-roll inspection, with documentation for complete transparency. This ensures international buyers receive fabrics that meet global compliance standards.

Cost vs Benefit Analysis

Hemp: Higher upfront cost but offers longer durability, reducing long-term replacement needs and appealing to environmentally conscious premium markets.

1. Cotton: More affordable and accessible, suitable for everyday wear, but less durable compared to hemp across multiple textile applications.
   
   
2. Blends: Balanced option offering enhanced durability and softness at mid-range pricing, perfect for brands targeting sustainable yet affordable fabrics.

For brands, hemp fabrics and certified organic cotton offer marketing advantages—consumers are willing to pay more for eco-friendly, certified fabrics. This adds long-term value beyond just production costs.

The Future of Hemp and Cotton in Textiles

The textile industry is entering a new era where sustainability drives growth. Cotton will remain the world’s most used fabric due to affordability, while hemp is rapidly emerging as the fabric of the future.

Blended textiles—such as hemp + organic cotton—will dominate because they balance cost, comfort, and sustainability. With brands and consumers prioritising eco-friendly fabrics, hemp and cotton will remain at the heart of the textile revolution.

Final Thoughts

The Hemp vs Cotton fabric debate is not about choosing one over the other—it’s about using the right fabric for the right application. While hemp scores higher on sustainability and durability, cotton wins on softness and affordability. Together, they form a powerful blend that meets the demands of today’s eco-conscious world.

At Radhey Krishna Cotweaving, we proudly manufacture both hemp and 100% cotton fabrics, along with certified blends, offering buyers unmatched variety, quality, and traceability.

Looking for premium hemp or cotton fabrics for your business? Contact us today for sustainable, certified, and high-quality textile solutions.

FAQs on Hemp vs Cotton Fabric

Which is more sustainable, hemp or cotton?

Hemp is generally more sustainable because it requires less water, fewer pesticides, and enriches soil health. Cotton, especially conventional varieties, consumes more resources, though organic cotton offers a more eco-friendly alternative.

Is hemp fabric stronger than cotton fabric?

Yes, hemp fabric is significantly stronger and more durable than cotton. Its long fibres make it resistant to wear and tear, lasting longer, while cotton provides immediate softness but wears down faster over time.

Which fabric is softer, hemp or cotton?

Cotton is naturally softer and more comfortable from the start. Hemp fabric feels coarser initially but softens after every wash, becoming increasingly comfortable without losing durability, making blends a great balance of softness and strength.

What are the key differences between hemp and cotton fabrics?

Hemp is stronger, more eco-friendly, and antibacterial, while cotton is softer, affordable, and widely available. Hemp suits sustainable, long-lasting products, while cotton excels in comfort and everyday use, making blends an ideal middle ground.

Does hemp fabric cost more than cotton fabric?

Yes, hemp fabric generally costs more due to limited supply and higher processing expenses. Cotton remains more affordable and widely accessible, but hemp’s durability and eco-friendly reputation often justify its higher price in sustainable markets.

Can hemp and cotton be blended?

Absolutely. Hemp and cotton blends combine hemp’s durability and eco-friendly benefits with cotton’s softness and comfort. These blends are ideal for apparel, workwear, and home textiles, offering the best balance between sustainability, affordability, and wearability.

Who is a reliable manufacturer of hemp and cotton fabrics in India?

Radhey Krishna Cotweaving, based in Rajasthan, India, is a trusted manufacturer of both hemp and 100% cotton fabrics. With certifications like GOTS, OCS, and GRS, they deliver high-quality, sustainable, and traceable textile solutions globally.