Review: 12 oz. Hemp Canvas Gi by
Earth-Gi
By Randy Simpson
Earth-Gi carries the distinction of being the only 100% Hemp
fabric gi on the market. Hemp isn’t just a hippie obsession; the fabric from
hemp plants is superior in many ways to cotton- for starters, it’s four times
stronger than cotton fabric and hemp will naturally resist yellowing and
rotting over time. Industrial hemp is NOT at all the same as the variety that
produces marijuana; so no, there is nothing psychoactive or drug-related about
hemp products. Unfortunately, industrial is illegal to cultivate here in the
United States.
The materials for Earth-Gi are imported from
Canada and the gi is hand made by a
husband and wife team who make hemp active wear for karate practitioners and
yogini. According to their web site (www.earth-gi.com), each gi is made to
order and Earth-Gi will craft custom size gi at no extra cost. Orders are
shipped within 1-2 weeks. Embroidery is also available.
Earth-Gi can stand by the fact that it is not produced
through sweatshop labor, something that many gi manufacturers cannot claim. Hemp
canvas is also an environmentally responsible choice, as it requires none of
the harsh pesticides that the cotton industry uses, and does not require nearly
as much fertilization. The end product is a very well made gi that more than
holds it’s own alongside comparable commercial brands.
I received my Earth-Gi just in time to test it out in an
evening karate class. Right out of the box, the 12 oz. hemp fabric feels like a
good work shirt that is broken in just right. The fabric is free from flaws and the
stitching is clean and straight. Based on measurements that I sent to the
Earth-Gi team, the gi fits me closely enough not to be a flapping nuisance, but
is loose enough that it does not restrict movement, especially in the legs and
midsection. The overall cut of the gi is very much in line with the “traditional”
cuts of the Meijin and Tokaido gi that I have used in the past. The jacket is
slightly longer which keeps it from pulling out of the belt. Above all, this is
a very comfortable gi to wear.
A difference that is immediately apparent is the color- this
gi is not the crisp bluish-white cotton that is a bit of a fetish amongst
karateka, but a mellow creamy tone. The hemp fabric is not bleached for two
reasons: bleaching is extremely destructive from an environmental standpoint;
and bleaching significantly weakens the fibers in plant derived fabrics such as
cotton and hemp. Although it may look different than the typical gi, the
Earth-Gi will last longer than bleached fabrics and does not contribute to
water pollution. As an aside, the uber-white gi is a relatively modern
artifact, as industrial bleaching was not around in pre-WWII
Japan.
The construction of the jacket reminds me of a cross between
a good Judo top and Carhartt work clothes. All jacket seams are triple stitched
with heavy thread. The inside of the sleeves are reinforced with a second layer
of hemp fabric, and the lapels and front panels are two layers thick and
stitched with five lines of thread. For those of us who engage in rugged karate
practice with much pulling, shoving and throwing, this extra reinforcement
means that the gi will last for far longer than a few months. Although sturdily
made, the jacket is not bulky or noticeably heavier. It feels just as strong as
my old Judo gi without being nearly as thick. In fact, it closes and maintains
the same profile as a lighter weight gi despite the thicker, much stronger
fabric. Just for grins, I had the largest student (a football player with arms
the size of my thighs) in my class pick me up by the lapels and throw me around
a few times. The jacket seams did not show any signs of stress or tearing.
One of my biggest complaints about the “traditional” heavy
cotton gi is that the pants often bind on the top of the thighs when kicking,
especially after a good sweat- it’s counterproductive to have to readjust for
each kick. The Earth-Gi pants allow for full range of motion without any
obstruction. The draw-string waist does not bunch excessively when pulled
tight, leaving plenty of swing room in the crotch and legs. The inseams are
reinforced here as well. It also does not hold sweat the same way that a cotton
gi tends to, making this a very breathable gi to train in.
I immediately noticed that the draw string loop of the pants
is far sturdier than in other brands. In all of the gi I’ve owned, the loop is
one of the first things to rip from regular use and abuse. The Earth-Gi design
is inverted, meaning that it’s horizontal as opposed to vertical. The loop is
of folded and stitched hemp that is secured to the folded waist band of the
pants with more reinforced stitching. If you like to roll around and toss each
other across the dojo, this feature is worth looking into.
So why is a hemp gi so special? A gi review is no place for
preaching from the soapbox, but bear with me for a moment. Modern karate is the
product of globalization, the mingling of cultures and individuals exchanging
ideas. An art that began on the relatively small
island of
Okinawa
has spread to every continent and been embraced by people from myriad
nationalities, religions, languages and walks of life. This implies a certain kinship,
a responsibility to relate to each other not only as karateka but as human
beings who share something that has become the property of the global community.
That awareness extends to our decisions about where or food comes from, how our
products are made, and who is affected by these processes. Certain choices can
have a positive impact on those who produce these goods for us. Please see the bottom of this review for
some facts about the human and environmental cost of modern cotton production.
All environmental and ethical reasons aside, the Earth-Gi is
worth looking into. The investment is worth it when you consider that the
fabric will outlast cotton, and that the manufacturers are real people who you
can deal directly with about custom sizing that’s actually made to order, not
just mix and match sizes. The price is comparable to a heavy-weight Tokaido or
Meijin gi. Compared to the 12 oz. gi offered by other brands Earth-Gi is
designed and made every bit as well- possibly better, when you consider the
attributes of hemp fabric for this use. I recommend Earth-Gi to anyone who is
serious about good training equipment and about their footprint on the rest of
the planet.
For more information or to order, visit:
www.earth-gi.com
or email:
tim@earth-gi.com
For more information on the human cost of
pesticide-dependent cotton production, please the Pesticide Action Network of North America's Cotton Briefing Kit Here