Not to be confused with marijuana, hemp is a relative, but different, says Wade. It's a fiber with historic value in the U.S., used for sail cloth during the Civil War, but outlawed as drug laws developed.
Hemp plants can't be grown in the U.S., or bought in an unprocessed state. The hemp in Wade's shirts comes in legal, finished bolts of material.
He's designed the shirts, has them manufactured in San Francisco, and is entering his final year at Chico State University as a business major with an entrepreneurial specialty. He sells the shirts through his business, Parallel Revolution, which was among a dozen businesses that pitched their ideas at a Chico State University Center for Entrepreneurship competition recently.
A bank of judges chose Wade as the winner, landing him $1,500, which he'll use for manufacturing his next batch of shirts. Originally a $500 award, the pot was sweetened by 3CORE, a local funding program headed by Marc Nemanic.
Of Wade, instructor and center director Peter Straus said, "What a great salesman. Selling his stuff probably will be the least of his problems; that is if he can figure out how to get into the market and what form or forms of distribution he will use. He is taking a course in writing a business plan right now so his education is unfolding.
"In the entrepreneurship program, we're more concerned with giving students a tool kit they can take out into the world. That tool kit, by the way, is really an exploration about how to think: Think about the world around them; think about the business world; think about how their business fits in and ultimately how to dig deep and produce something of value," said Straus, who also is key in AVL Looms in Chico.
Originally from the San Diego area, Wade has juggled a full load of classes, as well as working out what will be his future. A family member who once lived in Paradise suggested Chico State.
He really hasn't made money from the shirts yet, but relies on the relationships he's developed with sources and suppliers to keep going.
Stating that hemp is a more favorable agricultural crop than cotton because of using less water and pesticides, Wade would like to see laws change to allow its growth here. The hemp Wade uses is grown in China by an American company and woven into bolt fabric in combination with Lyocell, a cellulose fiber. A designer in Grass Valley created the variety of long- and short-sleeve, buttoned men's shirts shown on Wade's website, http://pararev.com. Women's fashions are next, maybe a dress or blouse, and there's a T-shirt as well.
As far as selling, most of his inventory is gone, but new inventory is coming in July, he said. He figures he's sold, given away or kept about 150 shirts over the past three years.
Besides the environmental friendliness of hemp, Wade notes the shirts are warm-water washed with a short-cycle tumble dry, with extended durability because of the longer length of the fibers. Ranging from beige to black, the shirts are lighter weight because of the hollow core of the fiber, he said. The buttons are cored from palm nuts in Ecuador.
Wade reiterates that key for him is environmental sensitivity, and he has coined the motto "Planet Earth Preferred Products" for his business.
An early mentor, who wore sandals made from recycled tires, exposed him to the idea of environmental responsibility.
"I'd like to be zero-waste. I even keep the scraps cut from the shirt material thinking I can sew them together for a new shirt."
Wade believes his business could make a difference in the world, not only from an agricultural standpoint, but from a consumer standpoint, too.
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