Hereco

The message of the project

Hereco, short for Hemp, Recovery, and Community, is a project committed to revitalizing the age-old art of hand-weaving hemp fabrics. It establishes a regenerative nearshoring hand-woven hemp textile production, from the seed to the final garment, right there in Ukraine.

The idea behind the project

Before the 1970s, rural Ukrainians used to cultivate hemp and linen for their families' textile needs. Their technique required no extra irrigation, pesticides, or fertilizers. The process involved manual harvesting, treatment, sun-bleaching, and transformation into durable yarns, which were then woven by hand into a durable fabric.

Through Hereco, they delve into this traditional approach by collaborating with ethnographers, museums, and textile experts in Ukraine and Europe. Alongside the artisan community, they reproduce this material, paving the way for Europe's first regenerative hand-woven textile production, all the way from seed to final garment. 

What next?

This project stands as proof that Europe can produce regenerative, carbon-neutral textiles. Simultaneously, they champion craftsmanship and drive job creation in rural areas.

Comprising sustainability and textile experts, they are constructing sustainable and ethical supply chains. Together, they breathe new life into ancient weaving and processing techniques, resulting in a distinctive, carbon-negative flax-based material.