HEMP HITS MAINSTREAM AND MAIN STREET Boots made out of recycled medical gloves and pop cans, sandals that can be thrown in the compost at the end of their life, and T-shirts woven out of materials associated with the kitchen are the latest additions to shopping in Smithers. Fibre Nation Organics opened its doors on Main Street almost two months ago and owner Nicola Papps said the interest in the hemp, organic cotton, bamboo and soy fabrics has been positive. "I was quite surprised. I thought there might have been a bit of controversy," Papps said in regard to the hemp products. Originally Papps was thinking about manufacturing her own clothing line made out of hemp fabrics, but after some research she decided to go into retail. She said one of her main draws to hemp is the fact the fibre is a renewable resource. "Hemp is four times stronger that cotton," Papps said. "I think the first jeans were made out of hemp. It is basically an old fabric that has been forgotten." Papps added one of the clothing lines she carries, Nomads, is designed in Nelson, B.C. and manufactured in Vancouver. She said unlike much of the hemp clothing that was produced at the beginning of the resurgence of the fabric, the designs now are modern. Papps hopes to expand into manufacturing clothing in Smithers, but right now her new store has her full attention. "Every day is a new adventure," Papps said. Her store also carries hemp pancake mix, brownies, coffee and jewelry by local designers.

Pubdate: Thu, 17 Aug 2006 Source: Smithers Interior News (CN BC) Copyright: 2006, BC Newspaper Group Contact: newsroom@interior-news.com Website: http://www.interior-news.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1631 Author: Rebecca Aldous __________________________________________________________________________ Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. --- MAP posted-by: Derek