Boheco pioneers large scale hemp textile production in India

By Isabelle Crossley 
Source: fashionnetwork.com

Boheco is expanding its hemp textile production in India as it offers the sustainable fabric as a cotton alternative and the brand is also taking its business model to London.


Boheco showcased their hemp garments at Google's London office last weekend - Boheco- Facebook

Awareness of the environmental damage of cotton production is rising, along with the rising suicide rates of cotton farmers who have seen their GM crops fail. This situation has led those interested in sustainability to search for an alternative and Boheco from Mumbai is gradually expanding its hemp fabric production to cement its position as a viable and environmentally friendly alternative to cotton textiles.

Boheco’s Co-Founder, Chirag Tekchandaney, said about how the business is educating both farmers and consumers: “Farmers don’t yet know the economic value of hemp… There is no organised cultivation that the country sees. We’re trying to raise awareness around consumers, but also around how farmers’ groups can actually join us to grow this in the future.”

Boheco currently has India’s largest seed bank with over 150 types of seeds and have stated that they are received enquiries from farmers representing a total of 25,000 acres of land across India which could see them becoming a textile producing giant in the coming years.

The business not only produces hemp textiles but also designs and manufactures clothing and they took their hemp garments and accessories to London this Diwali. The brand took part in Google’s London office event, Hemp Natives, on October 21 and 22, and help a pop-up shop for their clothing line. Among the clothing items they displayed were shirts, t-shirts, scarves, and tunics.

The Bombay Hemp Company (Boheco) was founded in January 2013 by Chirag Tekchandaney and Sanvar Oberoi and is based in Mumbai. The brand’s tagline is “educate, cultivate, elevate” and their aim is to become a world leader in industrial hemp production. The brand specialises in clothing but also makes medical marijuana, hemp food items, and Hempcrete Biocrete used to make housing.