Hemp Specialist Sativabags.com has a Handle on Eco-Friendly Shopping

May 02, 2007 - Press Dispensary - Hemp goods specialist Sativabags.com (http://www.sativabags.com) is launching a range of bags and accessories designed to make shopping more environmentally trendy. The online retailer believes its ‘Fashion by Nature’ selection of hemp bags removes the need to choose between buying a fashionable item or an eco-friendly one.

Hemp is three times stronger than cotton, and is a more environmentally friendly material as farmers do not need to use herbicides and pesticides which can poison both the land and the water supply.

The organically grown Sativa range capitalises on the durability and versatility of hemp to offer beautiful and practical handbags, rucksacks, shopping bags, large A4 size bags, waist bags, shoulder bags, luggage containers, briefcases, wallets and purses.

“Many people are unaware of the many benefits of using hemp as a material, and of the drastic repercussions the demand for cotton has on the environment,” says Alf Vora, managing director of Sativabags, which also supplies hemp clothing and shoes.

“We consider ourself to be a socially responsible company, and we wanted to prove that stylish-looking products don’t have to cost the earth either literally or financially. ‘Fashion by Nature’ should encourage all kinds of shoppers to cut out cotton containers and pooh-pooh plastic bags.”

The new Sativa range comprises many attractive designs, available in seven colours - black, grey, khaki, off-white ice, aqua, dusky pink, and brown.

The hemp bags are eye-catching, strong and durable. The fabric dyes well, retaining its colour over time, and the porous nature of the fibres allows the bag to breathe so that the product actually gets better with age.

Hemp is a high-yield commercial crop which flourishes in areas with temperate climates. It is sometimes misunderstood as it is a variety of the plant species, cannabis sativa. However, it contains far lower levels of the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) than the cannabis plant. A smoker of hemp would not get ‘high’, and would more likely end up with a bad headache.

Nowadays, hemp is widely viewed as the new cotton, and has enjoyed some high-profile endorsements. The New York Times recently stated that: “Hemp is now the height of fashion.” Fashion designer Calvin Klein is also a big fan, saying: “I believe hemp is going to be the fibre of choice in both home furnishings and fashion industries.”

Hemp has many other uses, as its seeds produce oil that can be used for cooking, lubrication and fuel. It is also a source of protein, can relieve various medical conditions and, as a renewable resource, can reduce society's over-reliance on cotton, soya beans, timber and petroleum.

“Hemp is a friend of the earth because it does away with the mass use of chemical fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides which are necessary to keep down the price of cotton, and of other fibre and oilseed crops,” says Mr Vora.

“Consumers need to realise that every time they buy a cotton shirt or bag they are condoning the damage that cultivating this material does to the environment. By wearing hemp products, they can contribute towards changing the way we nurture and make use of the earth’s resources, so safeguarding the planet’s future.”

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Notes for editors
Sativabags.com is an online company that specialises in environmentally friendly bags and accessories made from a mix of organically grown hemp and cotton. The business is run by London-based Alf Vora, and has been established for 20 years. Clients include Amnesty International and the WWF.

For further information, please contact:
Alf Vora, managing director
Sativabags.com
Tel: 020 8964 4141
Email:
Site: www.sativabags.com