Innovation

The innovation behind Jacaranda Hemp is to bring stylish apparel to the market due to hemp being a new innovation in clothing production. Hemp in clothing first emerged around 2700 BC in Asian countries like China and Japan. Since first being outlawed in 1937, hemp production in clothing has now become legal in 46 states since 2019. It is a more environmentally friendly alternative than many current production processes in the apparel industry.

During the inception of Jacaranda Hemp, Founder William Simon's childhood friend Henry Gibson served as his right-hand man as they had taken multiple visits to the Fashion District in Downtown Los Angeles, were both inspired by the How We Built This podcast, and became very eager to develop a niche clothing line and brand identity. Reaching out to his fellow Eagle Scout, Milo Evashchen, Simon was inspired by his unique artwork, and Evashchen became the artist behind the designs on the Jacaranda Hemp products. Simon talked about the development of the brand designs and messages by noting that “there was one day where we sat down and wrote all of our values and at that time, it was destigmatizing cannabis or getting at ‘Buddhism is cool.’ The mindfulness aspects were that we had 40 values and then from there we were, ‘Okay, now, if we get graphics to kind of pair with this, or we can throw in little captions that'll support these.” The overall purpose of Jacaranda Hemp is to create a unique clothing brand that is environmentally friendly by using hemp in the production process and connecting consumers to nature.

Inspiration

The inspiration behind the Jacaranda Hemp brand originated from several events leading up to one big idea. In his Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship classes at Loyola Marymount University, Simon participated in an Ikigai exercise to determine one’s motivation and sense of purpose. William said the sense of purpose and motivation he wanted to accomplish in the near future was “bringing people together to appreciate nature while also creating a business for good rooted in benefiting the Earth.” Later on, he and his friends had a discussion with an Uber driver who criticized the use of cotton in clothing and spoke of using an alternative of hemp or bamboo instead. Eventually, Simon and his friends looked into the benefits of hemp production on the environment, and he was able to execute his purpose of bringing people together through nature and creating a business for good through Jacaranda Hemp. When developing the graphics and brand imaging, the Jacaranda Hemp team prioritized targeting a specific demographic while writing over 40 company values. These values were used to develop intriguing graphics that would relate to a demographic intrigued by the Jacaranda Hemp values and brand identity.

Overall impact

When first starting their business, the Jacaranda Hemp team faced both short-term and long-term impacts. Initially, they had to convince people that they were not just projecting their values, in which they so strongly believed, but that they had a plan in mind for their company. Through their mission, they helped people understand the detrimental impacts of fast fashion.

Over time, Jacaranda Hemp’s efforts began to have long-term effects as people started to comprehend the broader implications of fast fashion on the environment and society. As Jacaranda Hemp continued to advocate for their cause and promote sustainable alternatives such as hemp clothing, they noticed a gradual shift in the attitude of their customer base. They encouraged general awareness among their customers by asking if they owned a hemp shirt during each sale. This would encourage customers to adopt more and more sustainable fashion choices.

Evidence of the company’s impact has been seen in the actions of individuals within their social circle. People in Simon's friend group are now actively engaging others to raise awareness about the issues surrounding fast fashion. This suggests that Jacaranda Hemp's advocacy efforts have not only influenced consumer behavior in their mindset surrounding sustainability, but they have also sparked a ripple effect, inspiring others to join the greater movement towards sustainable fashion.

A high point for Jacaranda Hemp was when they purchased their first batch of shirts and had them delivered in a truckload. This milestone was an epiphany moment for realizing their transition from conceptualizing their mission to actually producing a product that aligned with their values. “I feel like where we are now, sustainability is becoming a lot more of an expected product or topic of discussion, and I feel that in our own way we are spearheading that in the fashion realm,” Simon explained. Overall, Jacaranda Hemp’s mission is to create a great impact in both big and small ways as they continue to reaffirm their commitment to making a positive impact in the sustainable fashion industry.

Business benefit

Jacaranda Hemp's innovation offers several advantages for its business. First, hemp cultivation uses only 25 percent of the water and 50 percent of the land that cotton uses, leading to a more sustainable, long-term business practice. There has been a rise in consumer-conscious sustainability efforts as the newer generations are looking to find more environmentally friendly brands. Additionally, the cultivation of hemp revitalizes the soil, is recyclable, and is an extremely natural process; the combination of these qualities appeals to sustainability-focused consumers. Furthermore, garments made from hemp last longer than those made from other fibers. With almost all retail apparel stores being a part of the fast fashion industry, clothing does not last nearly as long. However, Jacaranda’s Hemp offers higher quality products than their competitors, eventually leading consumers to begin to test the difference offered by Jacaranda’s Hemp as its longevity outlasts their competition. Lastly, the biggest difference Jacaranda Hemp has on its competitors is price. At a fraction of the cost of similar products offered by the likes of Patagonia, the company has the ability to offer sustainability-conscious products at an affordable price. As the price of other competitors keeps rising due to the increase of goods and services, being a well-affordable apparel option gives Jacaranda’s Hemp that extra advantage.

Social and environmental benefit

Jacaranda Hemp's innovations help create new jobs in agriculture, processing, manufacturing, and retail. Jacaranda Hemp selects cannabis raw materials that are purchased in California, garments are sewn and yarn nets are produced in the Los Angeles Fashion District, and shirts are ironed and packaged in the Valley's backyards. By sourcing cannabis from local farms, it contributes to the economic development of the local community. Simon has spoken of the potential benefits to the community in several areas of using hemp as a raw material. Hemp fibers are strong and durable, making clothes more wearable. This reduces the waste associated with fast fashion and encourages more sustainable consumption patterns. By making hemp a more familiar and accepted material by incorporating it into everyday clothing, it can help break down the negative stereotypes associated with cannabis.

At the same time, hemp is a fast-growing crop that requires minimal water, pesticides, and herbicides compared to traditional clothing materials like cotton. This can reduce the environmental impact of the apparel industry. Hemp matures quickly compared to slower-growing crops, and hemp is naturally resistant to pests and diseases, requiring fewer chemical inputs, which reduces pressure on land use and promotes sustainable agricultural practices. As one of the initiatives outlined on Jacaranda Hemp's website states: promoting waste minimization.

Interview

William "Billy" Simon, Founder

Watch video