My wife has been telling me for awhile now that I needed to get a new wallet. The one I’ve been using has a bit of sentimental value since she got it for me in Mexico on our honeymoon. Nevertheless, as nice as Mexican leather looks when you get it, after four years, it tends to get a little worn. I figured that as long as I was going to get something to secure my valuables, I ought to get something that will hold up. I decided to go with a hemp wallet.
After realizing the potential that hemp offers as a viable alternative to the resources we’re currently using for fuel, paper, and textiles, I’ve been on the lookout for more practical applications. What could be more practical than a wallet?
The wallet I ended up getting is made by Hempmania and can be found at online stores like The Vegetarian Site. It has 8 compartments, 2 zippered areas, a Velcro strip, and a transparent slip for a picture ID. Although it’s a trifold, it’s incredibly thin and much lighter than my old leather wallet. It’s also available in six different colors, and costs only $14.50.
When I first started looking into hemp and heard that it was used to make this kind of stuff, the image that came to mind was the rope like necklaces that the old school hippies are known to wear. But that isn’t the case at all. It still has a natural look to it, but it can be dyed to match any color that cotton can without the need for bleaching and the gallons of water it takes to process cotton. It’s also softer, yet more durable than cotton.
Although it hasn’t been legal to grow hemp in America since the 1930′s, thankfully we can still purchase products that are made from it. At The Vegetarian Site alone, you can find hemp clothing, hemp belts, hemp shoes, hemp bags, and even hemp protein powder. Of course, The Vegetarian Site specializes in products that are eco-friendly, animal-friendly, and human friendly so hemp is a natural choice for everything-friendly products. Hopefully, by increasing awareness of its versatility and stirring up a greater demand for it, perhaps America will be friendly one day, reintegrate hemp back into our agricultural production, and once again allow us the freedom to grow this sustainable crop.
Steve McAllister
In addition to serving as Managing Editor and contributor to Modern Hippie Mag, Steve McAllister is an actor, musician, accomplished author, filmmaker, and the man behind Your Daily Groove. His most recent novel, The McAllister Code is available as an e-book at www.themcallistercode.com. Find Steve on Twitter, @InkenSoul. Read his reviews and articles here.
