Since 2002, Astral has led the outdoor industry in designing the highest-performing equipment with the priority of protecting soil and water through its production process. Today, Astral proudly announces the expansion of its HempTech apparel line, reinforcing its leadership in sustainable performance and innovation. The updated collection features new, performance-driven designs—including sun-hoodies, tees and hiking pants.
The brand’s commitment to incorporating hemp and other recycled or regenerative ingredients has long been integral to Astral’s materials philosophy. The brand was an early adopter in integrating hemp into footwear, recognizing the fiber’s remarkable natural performance characteristics and sustainability benefits, especially when compared to. Hemp is one of the most resource-efficient crops, requiring only soil, water, and sunlight to grow—and little to no pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. It uses 79% less water than cotton while producing over twice as much fiber. Beyond its low impact, hemp actively improves soil health by breaking down toxins and absorbs more carbon dioxide per acre than any commercial crop or forest.
The expanded HempTech apparel line now includes long and short sleeve sun protection tees, and performance hiking pants, in addition to the hooded sweatshirts and shorts released last year. Every item maintains Astral’s commitment to technical performance, offering natural breathability, durability, UPF sun protection, and odor resistance without synthetic chemical treatments or additives.
“We first introduced the performance hemp line in reaction to seeing technical fabrics leaning more and more heavily on petroleum-based materials to achieve design and functionality goals. We believe that approach comes at too high a cost to both the planet and the people wearing them,“ explains Philip Curry, Founder and CEO of Astral. “What we see in hemp is the rare opportunity to invest in a material that not only performs at the highest level but actively supports ecological health. It’s clear to us that regenerative, sustainable materials need to be embraced far more broadly, not just as an alternative. That’s why we’re committed to continuing to scale our use of them across our product lines.
Unlike synthetic, rayon, or viscose material that dominate the outdoor industry, rely on petroleum and chemical treatments, Astral’s hemp garments soften over time while maintaining their structure and performance. The result: apparel that not only performs in and endures the demands of wilderness athletes but improves with age and use.
“Where many brands incorporate hemp as a minor ingredient, we’ve seen the value in going all in,” said Daniel Windham, Astral’s Product Line Manager. “The success of our initial launch proved that a majority-hemp product can deliver on performance, durability, and sustainability. Expanding the line allows us to continue exploring hemp’s natural benefits while staying true to our commitment to regenerative materials that outlast the synthetic, rayon, and viscose materials that have sadly become the industry norm.”
The Performance Hemp collection is exclusively available for purchase directly from Astral. For additional information about Astral and its award-winning collection of footwear, apparel and outdoor equipment please visit astraldesigns.com.
ABOUT ASTRAL
Established in 2002, Astral designs high performance wilderness equipment created in the least toxic, lowest impact ways. Built on decades of experience and experimentation, Astral has assembled athletes, artists, and craftspeople to build the cleanest, most beautiful, and highest performing gear. Astral has significantly reduced toxic PVC foam from the PFD industry, invented breathable life jackets, won awards for their paradigm changing footwear designs, and developed the stickiest rubber ever worn on wet rock. Visit www.astraldesigns.com for more information.
